VOA Execs, Staffers File Second Lawsuit Against USAGM

A group of Voice of America (VOA) executives and journalists filed a second lawsuit against the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), the federal agency overseeing VOA and other government-funded international broadcasters. 

The legal action, lodged in the Southern District of New York, follows closely on the heels of a separate lawsuit filed by VOA journalists and unions just days earlier on March 21. Both suits challenge the Trump administration’s moves to dismantle USAGM and effectively shutter VOA, reflecting a broader pushback against an executive order issued by President Donald Trump on March 14, 2025.

The second lawsuit was spearheaded by VOA Director Michael Abramowitz, alongside journalist Anthony Michael LaBruto and two unnamed contractors identified as "John Does." It targets USAGM, its acting CEO Victor Morales, and Kari Lake, a Trump-appointed special adviser to the agency. The plaintiffs argue that Trump’s executive order, which directed USAGM to reduce its operations to the "minimum presence and function required by law," is unlawful. They contend it bypasses Congressional authority over federal funding and violates the statutory firewall meant to protect VOA’s editorial independence from executive interference. 

The backdrop to this legal battle is the abrupt suspension of VOA’s operations following the executive order. On March 15, dubbed "Bloody Saturday" by some, nearly all of VOA’s 1,300 employees—journalists, producers, and support staff—were placed on indefinite administrative leave with pay. Over 500 contractors, including the two anonymous plaintiffs, saw their contracts terminated instantly. The lawsuit highlights the immediate fallout: VOA’s 49 language services, which reach over 361 million people weekly across five continents, have largely ceased producing new content, with many broadcasts replaced by looped promotional clips or music. 

The lawsuit seeks a federal judge’s intervention to reverse the staff suspensions, reinstate contractors, and declare the executive order unconstitutional. It echoes the first lawsuit’s claims—filed by six VOA journalists, including ex-White House bureau chief Patsy Widakuswara, alongside unions and Reporters Without Borders—which accused USAGM of violating First Amendment rights and Congressional funding powers. However, this second action stands out for its focus on leadership representation and the plight of contractors, distinguishing it as a complementary yet distinct effort.