A US district judge has temporarily halted the Trump administration’s attempt to shut down the government-funded Voice of America (VOA) broadcasting network.
The ruling comes amid growing concerns over press freedom and media independence.
Temporary Restraining Order Issued
On Friday, District Judge J. Paul Oetken issued a temporary restraining order after a lawsuit was filed in a New York federal court by VOA employees, their unions, and Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
The Trump administration has massively slashed the federal government budget, leading to mass layoffs at VOA and other US-funded international media outlets.Trump has blocked Congress-approved funding for VOA’s parent organization, the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), severely impacting its operations.
Other US-funded media platforms affected by these budget cuts include:
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty – Established during the Cold War to counter Soviet propaganda.
Radio Free Asia – Focused on China, North Korea, and other Asian countries with strict media control.
A separate judge has already granted a restraining order against USAGM after Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty challenged the withholding of its $77-million 2025 budget.
Established during World War II, VOA broadcasts in 49 languages and serves as a crucial platform for promoting press freedom in countries with state-controlled media.
However, the move to defund VOA has been welcomed by Russia and China, both of whom have long viewed US-backed media as an instrument of American influence.
