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A federal judge in Washington D.C. ordered the immediate restoration of Voice of America (VOA) and the reinstatement of employees and contractors who were dismissed from entities affiliated with the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), including RadioTV Martí.
The journalist Wilfredo Cancio reported through the outlet CaféFuerte that the ruling was issued by district judge Royce Lamberth, who described the government's actions as "arbitrary and capricious" and warned that the sudden closure of the VOA and other information institutions violated both legal provisions and constitutional principles.
“The government took immediate and drastic measures to severely cut USAGM, without considering its legal or constitutional functions,” Lamberth wrote in his 37-page ruling released last Tuesday.
The report describes the ruling as a new judicial setback for the Trump administration, which decided last month to take The Voice of America off the air, a station with more than 82 years of history, as part of the plan to dismantle USAGM under the pretext of budgetary adjustments.
Judge Lamberth —appointed by Ronald Reagan— recalled that currently, under the umbrella of USAGM, only a unit of 33 people remains operational in the Office of Cuba Broadcasting (OCB), responsible for RadioTV Martí.
The rest of the operations were virtually halted, affecting 1,042 employees, many of whom were contractors.
The court order directs USAGM to unfreeze the funds allocated to the affiliated networks: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), Radio Free Asia (RFA), Middle East Broadcasting Network (MBN), Open Technology Fund (OTF), and OCB itself.
Although the ruling represents a victory for RadioTV Martí, the reinstatement of its staff has yet to materialize, according to sources cited by CaféFuerte.
About twenty contractors continue to receive their salaries, but they have not been officially called back to resume their duties.
"The superiors have sent communications to Washington, but no one has responded," said a source from the broadcaster who requested to remain anonymous. "That indicates the chaos within the government."
Currently, Radio Martí broadcasts only on the 1180 AM frequency, without shortwave coverage, due to the lack of contracted technicians to operate the transmitters from North Carolina. Furthermore, the usual content production has been severely limited.
The current head of USAGM, Kari Lake, appointed by Trump, stated to the NewsMax channel that the government will appeal Judge Lamberth's decision. However, this is already the second consecutive legal victory for VOA and USAGM: at the end of March, another federal judge in New York temporarily halted the dismantling plans, also deeming them "arbitrary."
Frequently Asked Questions About the Restoration of Voice of America in the U.S.
Why did a federal judge order the restoration of the Voice of the Americas?
Federal Judge Royce Lamberth ordered the immediate restoration of the Voice of America (VOA) because he deemed the shutdown of the agency to be "arbitrary and capricious" and in violation of legal provisions and constitutional principles. The ruling is seen as a setback for the Trump administration, which had decided to close the VOA as part of a plan to dismantle the United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM) under the pretext of budget adjustments.
What impact did the closure of Radio and TV Martí have?
The closure of Radio and TV Martí generated an intense wave of reactions among the Cuban community and the political landscape in the United States. It was seen as a blow to press freedom and the fight against the censorship of the Cuban regime. Activists and politicians emphasized the significance of these broadcasts in countering the government's propaganda in Cuba and advocated for their reinstatement. The closure also impacted the regular production of content, leaving many employees in a state of administrative leave.
How has the government reacted to the judge's decision regarding the Voice of the Americas?
The current head of USAGM, Kari Lake, appointed by Trump, stated that the government will appeal Judge Lamberth's decision. Despite this stance, this is already the second consecutive legal victory for VOA and USAGM. In March, another federal judge had temporarily halted the dismantling plans, deeming them "arbitrary" as well.
What measures has the Trump administration taken regarding government-funded media?
The Trump administration has implemented massive cuts at the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), affecting outlets like Voice of America, Radio, and TV Martí. The executive order signed by Trump aimed to minimize operations to the legally required minimum, justifying the measure as an effort to reduce the size of the federal government and to criticize the perceived bias in these media outlets.
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