Judge Lamberts blocks VOA endings, criticizes the leadership of Kari Lake

US District Judge Royce Lamberth blocked a new wave of layoffs at Voice of America, offering hard words for Kari Lake and saying that the conduct of the Trump administration in his case would support the civil procedure of contempt, if only the complainants had asked.

In the 19-page decision, judge Lamberth interrupted the mass reduction of the American agency for the world media (USAGM) and issued a warning that the reductions “cement” the non-compliance with VOA to comply with the legal obligations to provide reliable news.

The list of Lamberth failures included legal violations involving the closure of compulsory Linguistic Services of VOA despite clear directives of the Congress.

Kari Lake cuts 532 government positions at Voice of America, parental agency

In this composite image, Kari Lake, principal advisor of the American agency for the world media, speaks while the headquarters of the voice of America is shown on the left. (Getty Images)

He said Voa recognized that his “radio presence” had reduced to a single 30 -minute daily program in Dari and Pashto, leaving gaps in nations coverage like North Korea and China.

Kari Lake was called to admit under oath that she had not “thought much about the question of whether Africa is considered an” important region of the world “under the law and confirmed that VOA produces no programming for South America.

And Lamberth accused the Trump administration of having deceived the court, going so far as to call it incredible to suggest that the RIF was “uncertain” while the evidence showed that it was already in motion.

The RIF’s opinions covered both VOA and USAGM employees, and Lamberth rejected the government’s attempt to prune the non -VOA staff.

The judge put a temporary break on Trump’s mass dismissals in government agencies

He accused Lake and his team of “cutting his nose in the orders of the congress” and showing “a cheeky disinterest” in statutory duties – a strong language that deserves.

The outrage warning was not only a question of tone; It was also linked to their failure to produce documents required on future RIFs, despite the judicial orders.

Overall, the order maintains VOA’s workforce intact until October 14, when Lake is forced to work with his team to file a plan showing how they will restore the legally required programming.

The Voice of America (VOA) logo appears on a mobile phone with the American agency for world media (USAGM) visible in the background in this photo illustration in Brussels, Belgium, March 16, 2025. (Jonathan Raa / Nurphoto via Getty Images)

Click here to obtain the Fox News app

The judge warned that their “lack of respect” for other decisions would have been sufficient to trigger a trial for outrage.

“Equity is allergic to rigidity,” wrote Lamberth, stressing the power of the Court to prevent the executives from exceeding.