🔗 Share this article American Judge Orders Former President Trump's Administration to Resume Operations at VOA. Broadcasting equipment on a desk. (Photo Courtesy: Stock Image) An US judge has determined that the effective closure of the VOA last year was against the law and has directed the return of many of its reporters. Court Mandate Sets 7-Day Timeline Federal Judge Royce Lamberth has granted the government seven days to put the international broadcaster back on air. Historical Origins and Recent Closure The VOA was originally created during World War Two to combat Nazi propaganda. Only a short time after returning to office as president, Donald Trump issued an executive order to close the broadcaster, which his officials accused of left-wing bias. The order also targeted outlets such as Radio Free Europe and Radio Free Asia, calling for them to be “eliminated to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law”. Leadership Changes and Mass Dismissals President Trump appointed Kari Lake to run the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), the oversight body that manages and finances the VOA and other networks. Lake then sack more than 85% of the agency's employees—more than 1,000 staff at VOA alone—with only a small number of employees in their jobs. Most of the affected staff have been on paid administrative leave since last year. This even applied to Persian Service reporters who were temporarily|called back to work after Israel attacked Iran last June. Court’s Reasoning and Ruling Last week, Judge Lamberth ruled that Lake did not have the authority to suspend the operations of the USAGM workforce, as she had not been confirmed by the US Senate. In this week's decision, the judge labeled the decision to fire the journalists as unreasonable and impulsive, adding that the government had not taken into account laws that dictate what languages and regions the VOA must serve. “The government have provided no a principled basis for their decision,” Lamberth stated in his opinion. Journalists’ Lawsuit and Response Three VOA journalists had filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration. One of them, Patsy Widakuswara, said she was profoundly thankful for the judge's decision. “We hope the American people will continue to support our mission to produce factual reporting, not biased messaging,” she said to the Associated Press. Unclear Next Steps and Broader Implications It is uncertain if Lake's proposed successor, Sarah Rogers—whose appointment needs Senate confirmation—will challenge the ruling. Prior to its shutdown, the VOA transmitted TV, radio, and digital content in nearly 50 languages. Trump's criticisms of the VOA are part of his wider attacks against the US media, which studies suggest American news consumers view as highly polarised.