Voice of America (VOA) is the largest and oldest U.S.-funded international broadcaster. Established in 1942, VOA is part of the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), a federal agency that oversees all U.S. government-funded international media networks. VOA’s mission is to deliver news and information that is accurate, objective, and comprehensive to global audiences in more than 40 languages, promoting democratic values and supporting freedom of the press.

In March 2025, the Trump administration issued an executive order to dismantle USAGM, and as a consequence leave Voice of America, Radio Free Asia and Middle East Broadcasting Networks without congressionally-appropriated funds.

Journalists, federal workers, and their unions filed a lawsuit and immediate relief request against the USAGM, its Acting Director Victor Morales, and Special Adviser Kari Lake to challenge the unlawful shuttering of the agency and silencing of global media.

The lawsuit, filed in the Southern District of New York, argues that USAGM has failed to fulfill its legally required functions and violated both the freedom of journalists and the separation of powers when it ordered staff not to report to work, suspended contractors, turned off service, and locked the agency’s doors.

The plaintiffs include the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the NewsGuild-CWA, the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA), Reporters Without Borders (RSF), and seven individual workers. VOA White House Bureau Chief Patsy Widakuswara is the lead plaintiff.

Plaintiffs are represented by Democracy Forward, Government Accountability Project,Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel LLP, and State Democracy Defenders.

On March 28, the Southern District Court of New York granted a Temporary Restraining Order, blocking the administration’s efforts to dismantle the USAGM and to silence VOA and its grantees.

The government appealed the preliminary injunction decision to the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. 

On May 1, 2025, the Court of Appeals granted the government’s request for “an administrative stay,” meaning that the injunction order granted by the district court will be on hold while the Court of Appeals considers the government’s appeal. However, the administrative stay in this case only affects the disbursement of the funds. The employees must still be reinstated to their organizations.

Timeline:

• March 21st: We filed an emergency motion seeking a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to block the Trump-Vance administration’s unlawful and unconstitutional dismantling of USAGM and its networks.
• March 28th: The Southern District Court of New York granted a Temporary Restraining Order, blocking the administration’s efforts to dismantle the USAGM and to silence VOA and its grantees.
• April 22nd: The District Court of the District of Columbia granted a Preliminary Injunction establishing that USAGM must fulfill its legally required functions and protect the editorial independence of VOA journalists. 

The case is Widakuswara et al v. Lake et al.