A federal judge handed a major setback to Kari Lake, ruling that President Donald Trump’s ally unlawfully ran the U.S. Agency for Global Media for several months in 2025 and nullifying all measures she implemented during that interval—including sweeping layoffs that gutted Voice of America.
U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth published his decision on Saturday, March 7, 2026, concluding that Lake was not eligible to act as USAGM’s CEO after being elevated to the role on July 31 without Senate approval. She stepped down from that role on November 19.
The judgment nullifies Lake’s entire four-month stint, including an August 9 workforce cut that ended contracts and dismissed hundreds of VOA employees and contractors. Overall, roughly 1,400 positions—about 85% of the staff—have been eliminated since March 2025. Voice of America, which previously broadcast in 49 languages to about 354 million weekly listeners, now functions with a minimal crew in only a few languages.
“The Court finds that these expansive delegations were an unlawful effort to transform Lake into the CEO of U.S. Agency for Global Media in all but name,” Judge Lamberth wrote.
The ruling is a significant win for VOA journalists who fought Lake’s attempts to remake the organization. Named plaintiffs Patsy Widakuswara, Kate Neeper and Jessica Jerreat hailed the outcome as vindication, saying the decision “is a powerful step toward undoing the damage she has inflicted on this American institution.”
Lake responded immediately, labeling Lamberth an “activist judge” and announcing plans to appeal. She argued President Trump tasked her with cutting excessive bureaucracy and accused the court of blocking those efforts.
The dispute turned on the Federal Vacancies Reform Act, which restricts how agencies may appoint temporary leaders while awaiting Senate confirmation of permanent nominees. Lamberth found that Lake did not satisfy any of the statutory conditions to serve as acting CEO.
Lake was not part of USAGM when former CEO Amanda Bennett resigned in January 2025. She joined the agency in March as a senior adviser to Victor Morales, who succeeded Bennett, and a November 21 news release described her as deputy CEO. Lake maintained that as deputy she could assume the acting CEO role when Morales was removed.
Lamberth dismissed that claim, saying accepting it would effectively undermine the Senate’s constitutional role in confirming high-level officials. The judge also invalidated actions she took after Morales transferred nearly all his duties to her.
The decision mirrors a 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that similarly struck down Alina Habba’s appointment as U.S. Attorney in New Jersey. In both matters, courts held the administration violated the Federal Vacancies Reform Act by using tactics to sidestep Senate confirmation.
This is at least the third time Lamberth has ruled against the Trump administration in cases tied to Voice of America. The Reagan appointee blocked plans in April and September that would have displaced many VOA staff, although the April order was later reversed on appeal.
Lake’s time at USAGM was contentious from the beginning. The former Fox 10 Phoenix anchor, who lost political races in Arizona in 2022 and 2024 before joining the Trump administration, moved quickly to reshape the agency. She hired Frank Wuco as an adviser—a conservative ex–talk show host who backed the birther conspiracy about Barack Obama and who probed VOA journalists for alleged anti-Trump bias during Trump’s first term.
Under Lake’s direction, VOA largely went off the air on March 15, 2025, ending 83 years of continuous broadcasting. She pushed forward the sale of the Wilbur J. Cohen Federal Building, which had housed VOA since 1954, canceled a long-term lease for new offices, and set deadlines for hundreds of employees to accept deferred resignation offers.
The ruling places those moves in legal uncertainty. Staff members face unclear employment prospects. The decision also impacts Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and other federally funded international media bodies overseen by USAGM, which are involved in separate lawsuits.
Lake dismissed Lamberth as having a “pattern of activist rulings” and said she strongly disagrees with the outcome. The government intends to appeal, prolonging the legal battle over the future of America’s international broadcasting services.
For now, the journalists who challenged Lake’s authority have scored an important legal victory. The appeals process will determine whether that victory leads to restored operations at Voice of America.
