Judge Says Kari Lake VOA CEO Appointment Was Unlawful

A federal judge has ruled that Kari Lake's appointment as acting CEO of the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) — the parent agency overseeing Voice of America (VOA) — was unlawful, voiding major actions she took during her tenure, including mass layoffs of hundreds of staffers.

U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth, a Reagan appointee, issued the decision on Saturday in Washington, D.C. He granted summary judgment in favor of plaintiffs, including VOA journalists and a federal employees' union, who sued the Trump administration.

The court found that Lake's elevation to acting CEO on July 31, 2025, violated the Federal Vacancies Reform Act and the Constitution's Appointments Clause. Lake was ineligible because she was not already employed by USAGM when the prior CEO resigned in January 2025, nor had she received Senate confirmation for any relevant federal role. The judge described the arrangement as an "unlawful effort" to install her as CEO "in all but name" and "violence to the statutory and constitutional scheme."

Kari Lake

As a result, all actions Lake took while serving in that capacity—from July 31 to November 19, 2025—are null and void. This includes an August 2025 reduction-in-force that eliminated hundreds of positions (reports vary from around 532 to over 1,000 affected employees across USAGM and VOA), as well as other operational cuts aimed at diminishing the agency.

The ruling represents a significant setback for the Trump administration's efforts to restructure or downsize government-funded international broadcasting, which provides news in regions with limited press freedom.

VOA staffers and plaintiffs expressed relief at the outcome. They described themselves as feeling "vindicated and deeply grateful" for the decision, viewing it as affirmation of legal protections for federal employees and the independence of the broadcaster.

Lake, a longtime Trump ally and former Arizona gubernatorial candidate, had been tapped to lead these changes. She relinquished the acting CEO role in November 2025 and has indicated plans to appeal the ruling, according to reports.

The decision could pave the way for reinstatement of affected employees, though appeals or further legal proceedings may delay or alter implementation.