A federal judge has slowed a return-to-work order for employees of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, removing a Sunday deadline that would have required a broad reinstatement of staff and instead mandating a phased return of approximately 70 employees per week.
The ruling, issued Friday night, slows efforts to bring back workers at Voice of America and other USAGM outlets who had previously been placed on leave or otherwise sidelined. The decision introduces a more gradual timeline as the court continues to weigh broader legal challenges surrounding the agency’s employment actions.
The U.S. Agency for Global Media oversees federally funded international broadcasters including Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and Radio Free Asia, which provide news coverage to global audiences, often in regions with restricted press freedom.
The case stems from disputes over staffing decisions that critics argue have disrupted the agency’s journalistic mission and weakened its global news output. Supporters of the employees have pushed for swift reinstatement, while the agency has cited operational and administrative constraints.
The phased return order means it could take weeks or longer before the workforce is fully restored, leaving ongoing uncertainty about staffing levels, programming capacity, and the agency’s ability to meet its international broadcasting mandate.