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An US court has ruled that the practical shutdown of the VOA last year was unlawful and has ordered the reinstatement of hundreds of its staff.

Court Order Sets One-Week Timeline

District Court Judge Royce Lamberth has given authorities seven days to put the international broadcaster back on air.

Wartime Origins and Recent Closure

The VOA was originally set up during World War Two to counter Nazi disinformation.

Only a short time after being sworn in again as president, Donald Trump issued an executive order to close the broadcaster, which his officials accused of political bias. The order also included networks such as Radio Free Europe and Radio Free Asia, stating they should be phased out as much as legally possible.

Management Changes and Mass Dismissals

President Trump appointed Kari Lake to lead the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), the oversight body that manages and finances the VOA and related networks.

Lake proceeded to fire over 85 percent of the agency's employees—over 1,000 staff at VOA alone—with only a handful of employees remaining.

Most of the affected staff have been on leave with pay since last year. This included Persian Service reporters who were temporarily|called back to work after Israel attacked Iran last June.

Court’s Rationale and Ruling

Last week, Judge Lamberth ruled that Lake did not have the legal power to suspend the operations of the USAGM workforce, as she had not been confirmed by the US Senate.

In Tuesday's decision, the judge described the decision to sack the journalists as unreasonable and impulsive, adding that the government had failed to consider legislation that dictate what languages and regions the VOA must serve.

“Defendants have provided nothing approaching a reasonable basis for their decision,” Lamberth stated in his opinion.

Reporters’ Lawsuit and Reaction

Three VOA journalists had sued the Trump administration. One of them, Patsy Widakuswara, said she was profoundly thankful for the judge's decision.

“We hope the American people will keep support our mission to produce factual reporting, not biased messaging,” she told reporters.

Unclear Future and Broader Implications

It is not clear if Lake's nominated successor, Sarah Rogers—whose appointment requires Senate confirmation—will appeal.

Before being wound down, the VOA transmitted TV, radio, and digital content in nearly 50 languages.

Trump's attacks of the VOA are part of his broader attacks against the US media, which research indicates American news consumers view as highly polarised.