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WASHINGTON — A federal judge ruled on Saturday that Kari Lake’s leadership of the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) for much of 2025 violated federal law, invalidating a sweeping series of actions she took to cut staff and curtail operations at its Voice of America (VOA) unit .
U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth granted summary judgment in favor of plaintiffs including VOA journalists and a union representing federal employees, who argued that Lake’s appointment as acting CEO and the actions she took in that role violated the Federal Vacancies Reform Act and the Constitution’s Appointments Clause .
Why Lake’s Appointment Was Illegal
Lamberth ruled that Lake was ineligible to serve as acting CEO because she was not employed by USAGM when former CEO Amanda Bennett resigned in January 2025, and she had not been confirmed by the Senate to any other federal post . Lake officially joined USAGM in March 2025 as a senior adviser, and a November 2025 agency release described her as deputy CEO .
The judge also rejected the administration’s argument that Lake could wield CEO authority through a delegation from previous acting CEO Victor Morales .
“Only the Appointments Clause or the Vacancies Act’s exclusive structure may authorize service as a principal officer, and Lake satisfies the requirements of neither the statute nor the Constitution,” Lamberth wrote .
What the Ruling Means
Under the Vacancies Act, actions taken by someone not lawfully serving in a vacant office “shall have no force or effect” and cannot be ratified, Lamberth wrote . The judge declared:
“As a consequence, any actions taken by Lake during her asserted tenure as acting CEO between July 31 and November 19, 2025…are void” .
This includes a reduction-in-force affecting hundreds of employees that remains under a court-ordered suspension .
Voice of America, which had broadcast in 49 languages to approximately 420 million people across more than 100 countries, was limited to just four languages under the administration’s efforts to dismantle the agency .
Reactions to the Decision
The plaintiffs—VOA journalists Patsy Widakuswara, Kate Neeper, and Jessica Jerreat—said they felt “vindicated and deeply grateful” . They added:
“The judge’s ruling that Kari Lake’s actions shall have no force or effect is a powerful step toward undoing the damage she has inflicted on this American institution that we love” .
Reporters Without Borders called the case “proof that fighting for press freedom matters” .
Lake vowed to appeal, stating: “Judge Lamberth has a pattern of activist rulings — and this case is no different” . She added that “the American people gave President Trump a mandate to cut bloated bureaucracy, eliminate waste, and restore accountability to government” .
Background and Legal Context
Saturday’s decision marks at least the third time Lamberth has ruled against the Trump administration in cases involving Voice of America . The judge had previously halted plans in April and September 2025 that would have put many VOA employees out of work, although the April ruling was later overturned by an appeals court .
Lamberth, a nominee of President Ronald Reagan, has repeatedly cited the separation of powers and Congress’s role in his rulings .
The ruling comes just days after Lake offered employees a “deferred resignation program” with a March 9 deadline to accept buyouts, which VOA employees viewed as a sign that Lake might lose in court . “If they thought they were winning they wouldn’t be bribing us to quit,” one employee said .
The practical effect of Saturday’s ruling on hundreds of sidelined VOA journalists was not immediately clear .
