🔗 Share this article American Jurist Orders Former President Trump's Administration to Reopen VOA. Broadcasting tools in a studio. (Photo Credit: Getty Images) A federal judge has declared that the practical closure of the Voice of America last year was “illegal” and has directed the return of hundreds of its staff. Judicial Mandate Sets One-Week Timeline Federal Judge Royce Lamberth has given authorities seven days to put the international broadcaster back on air. Historical Origins and Trump-Era Closure The VOA was originally established during World War Two to counter Nazi disinformation. Only a short time after being sworn in again as president, Donald Trump signed an executive order to close the broadcaster, which his officials accused of political bias. The order also targeted outlets such as Radio Free Europe and Radio Free Asia, stating they should be phased out as much as legally possible. Leadership Shake-Up and Widespread Dismissals President Trump appointed Kari Lake to lead the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), the parent company that oversees and funds the VOA and related networks. Lake then fire the vast majority of the agency's employees—more than 1,000 staff at VOA alone—with only a handful 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 Tuesday's decision, the federal judge described the decision to fire the journalists as unreasonable and impulsive, adding that the government had ignored legislation that determine what languages and regions the VOA must serve. “Defendants have provided nothing approaching a reasonable basis for their decision,” Lamberth wrote. Journalists’ Lawsuit and Response Three VOA journalists had sued the Trump administration. One of them, Patsy Widakuswara, said she was deeply grateful for the judge's decision. “We hope the American people will continue to support our mission to produce factual reporting, not biased messaging,” she told the Associated Press. Uncertain Next Steps and Wider Context It is uncertain if Lake's nominated successor, Sarah Rogers—whose appointment requires Senate confirmation—will challenge the ruling. Prior to its shutdown, the VOA broadcast TV, radio, and digital content in nearly 50 languages. Trump's criticisms of the VOA form part of his broader criticism of the US media, which research indicates American news consumers view as highly polarised.