Particle.news
Download on the App Store
10 ARTICLES
·
4w ago

Judge Moves to Trump Administration's Shutdown of Voice of America

A federal judge plans to issue a restraining order against the Trump administration's efforts to dismantle Voice of America, marking a key legal setback for the administration's agenda.

Image
A view of the Voice of America (VOA) building, a day after more than 1,300 of the employees of the media broadcaster, which operates in almost 50 languages, were placed on leave in Washington, D.C., U.S. March 16, 2025.
A view of the Voice of America (VOA) building, a day after more than 1,300 of the employees of the media broadcaster, which operates in almost 50 languages, were placed on leave in Washington, D.C., U.S. March 16, 2025.
A view of Voice of America (VOA) news service center.

Overview

  • U.S. District Court Judge J. Paul Oetken announced plans to issue a temporary restraining order to block the Trump administration's efforts to shut down Voice of America (VOA).
  • The restraining order follows similar court rulings that restored funding and operations for other U.S.-backed broadcasters like Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
  • Voice of America remains offline, and its workforce is on administrative leave, but lawsuits continue to challenge the administration's actions as unconstitutional and harmful to press freedom.
  • Kari Lake, appointed by President Trump to oversee the U.S. Agency for Global Media, suspended VOA's workforce and terminated funding for other broadcasters, sparking legal and political backlash.
  • Critics argue the shutdowns undermine U.S. soft power and leave regions vulnerable to authoritarian propaganda without reliable, independent news sources.