Judge Blocks Trump Admin from Firing Hundreds at Voice of America

In yet another example of the D.C. swamp protecting its own, a federal judge has blocked the Trump administration from laying off over 500 employees at Voice of America and other taxpayer-funded global media outlets despite evidence of deep-rooted partisan bias and anti-American reporting.

On Monday, U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth issued an order suspending Acting USAGM CEO Kari Lake’s Reduction in Force (RIF) plan, which would have terminated 532 bureaucrats from the United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM) a bloated and ideologically compromised agency overseeing Voice of America, Radio Free Europe, and Middle East Broadcasting Networks.

Lake, who was appointed to clean up the agency, described VOA as “rotten to the core” and openly accused it of spreading anti-American, leftist propaganda on the taxpayer’s dime. The layoffs were scheduled to begin on September 30, but thanks to Lamberth’s ruling, the deeply entrenched federal media apparatus lives to fight another day.

“The Reduction in Force... is SUSPENDED and may NOT be implemented, effectuated, or completed in any way,” the court ruled.

The Trump administration has been blocked from cleaning house. Again.

Kari Lake defended the decision to downsize the agency as part of a broader push to reduce federal waste, increase efficiency, and restore accountability in government-controlled media.

“This was about helping reduce the federal bureaucracy, improve agency service, and save the American people more of their hard-earned money,” Lake said.

But the court wasn't interested in the merits. In fact, Judge Lamberth admitted that the Trump team hadn’t even defended the firings based on their reasoning, instead calling their arguments “all bark and no bite.”

And yet, this is exactly the type of judicial overreach we’ve come to expect when the permanent bureaucracy is under threat.

Let’s not forget what Voice of America has become under years of unchecked liberal leadership:

• Published glowing reports on illegal immigrants identifying as transgender seeking asylum

• Pushed divisive coverage on so-called “white privilege” and identity politics

• Used taxpayer funding to undermine American values abroad instead of promoting freedom and truth

In March, President Trump signed an executive order directing the agency to be “eliminated to the maximum extent possible consistent with federal law.” It was a clear mandate: cut the rot and restore mission integrity.

But Judge Lamberth wasn’t having it. He even threatened the administration with civil contempt, accusing them of ignoring prior court orders and failing to hand over documents. He also rejected comparisons to a Supreme Court ruling that recently allowed Trump to fire hundreds from the Department of Education, saying it didn’t apply here.

This isn’t about process. It’s about power. And the federal bench just showed once again that it will go to war to protect entrenched leftist institutions, even when voters and their elected leaders say otherwise.

Kari Lake didn’t mince words in her response:

“I’ve seen a huge ‘disrespect’ from the district courts toward the Executive Branch and the American people who have voted overwhelmingly to support President Donald J. Trump.”

She’s right. The people voted for change not to protect partisan propaganda machines operating under the guise of journalism.

This fight is far from over. But one thing is clear draining the swamp doesn’t just mean taking on crooked politicians it means taking on an entire system designed to resist reform and punish those who dare to challenge it.

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