US Court blocks Trump’s VOA shutdown, call it unconstitutional

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump has suffered another legal setback after a US court suspended one of his executive orders. According to international media, a federal judge has blocked Trump’s order to shut down the Voice of America (VOA), declaring it unconstitutional and blocking its implementation.

The court noted that due to cuts in government funding, VOA was unable to fulfill its journalistic mission for the first time in its 80-year history. Judge Royce Lamberth said the shutdown ignored the impact on employees, journalists and global media audiences.

The court ordered all employees and contractors of VOA, Radio Free Asia and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks to be reinstated to their original positions. The judge also ruled that the administration violated the International Broadcasting Act and Congress’ authority to allocate funds.

VOA’s White House bureau chief and lead plaintiff, Patsy Vadakoswara, welcomed the ruling, expressing concern that the government might appeal. She reiterated her commitment to resisting VOA’s unlawful silencing until the organization returns to its core mission.

The court also ordered the Trump administration to immediately restore jobs and funding for all affected staff. More than 1,300 employees — including nearly 1,000 journalists — were initially furloughed following Trump’s order.

The Trump administration has accused the media organizations of being “anti-Trump” and “extremist.”

Founded during World War II to counter Nazi propaganda, VOA has become a globally recognized media outlet. Trump had long criticized VOA and other media groups for alleged bias and appointed political ally Michael Peck — who had supported his claims of election fraud — to lead the agency at the start of his second term.