A US federal judge has ordered President Trump's administration to temporarily pause its efforts to shut down international news service Voice of America.
Judge James Paul Oetken blocked the US Agency for Global Media, which runs Voice of America, from firing more than 1,200 journalists, engineers and other staff who were placed on paid leave earlier this month.
Oetken said that the Trump administration could not unilaterally terminate Voice of America and related radio programmes that were approved and funded by Congress. Doing so would require congressional approval, the judge wrote.
Oetken did not say that Voice of America should resume broadcasts, but argued that employees should not be fired until further court proceedings could determine whether the shutdown was "arbitrary and capricious" - in violation of federal law.
The order also bars the Agency for Global Media from terminating grant funding for its other broadcast outlets, including Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia and Radio Free Afghanistan.
US President Donald Trump signed an executive order in March to cut back Voice of America.
A White House statement, titled “The Voice of Radical America,” said the executive order would "ensure taxpayers are no longer on the hook for radical propaganda". It accused VOA of being anti-Trump.
VOA was set up during World War Two to counter Nazi propaganda. It says it currently reaches hundreds of millions of people globally each week.
Voice of America went off the air soon after Trump issued his executive order on March 14.
You are not signed in
Only registered users can comment on this article.
UK film and TV industry backs clean power plan
The UK film and TV industry has agreed on a plan to permanently shift to clean solutions for temporary power on sets.
Nigel Warner to succeed John McVay as CEO of Pact
UK producers' body Pact has named Nigel Warner, UK Policy Consultant to the Motion Picture Association and Special Counsel at Lexington, as its next CEO.
Sky’s Priya Dogra to become Chief Executive of Channel 4
Priya Dogra will become the next Chief Executive of Channel 4. Currently Chief Advertising, Group Data, and New Revenue Officer at Sky, Dogra will succeed interim Jonathan Allan in March 2026.
One Battle After Another, The White Lotus, and Adolescence lead Golden Globe nominees
One Battle After Another, The White Lotus, and Adolescence have emerged as the frontrunning films and TV shows for the 2026 Golden Globes.
President Trump weighs in on Netflix deal to buy Warner Bros Discovery
US President Donald Trump has added his voice to concerns about Netflix's planned $83bn deal to buy Warner Bros Discovery.
