Overview
- Voice of America staff were informed by the Department of Justice that a phased return to the office and programming resumption is expected to begin next week.
- A federal appeals court on Saturday blocked a lower court ruling that had ordered the reinstatement of over 1,000 VOA employees, creating uncertainty about full operational restoration.
- The appeals court's decision allows limited programming to resume but maintains a freeze on funding for affiliated broadcasters like Radio Free Europe and Radio Free Asia.
- The shutdown, initiated by a March executive order from President Trump, marked the first time in VOA's 80-year history that its operations ceased entirely.
- VOA journalists and experts warn that significant effort will be required to rebuild the broadcaster's capacity and audience after nearly two months off-air.