A federal judge has ruled that Kari Lake, the senior adviser for the U.S. Agency for Global Media appointed by President Donald Trump, acted unlawfully in running the parent organization of Voice of America.
U.S. District Court Judge Royce C. Lamberth wrote in his Saturday ruling that "Lake satisfies the requirements of neither the statute nor the Constitution." The judge declared all of Lake's actions over the past year to be null and void, including the layoffs of more than 1,000 journalists and staffers at the U.S. Agency for Global Media and Voice of America.
The ruling represents a direct rebuke to the Trump White House and to Lake personally. Lamberth has previously found government arguments that Congress had no role in the future of the agency unconvincing and had questioned Lake's credibility from the bench. Last summer, he threatened Lake with contempt of court.
Lake told NPR she would appeal the ruling. "The American people gave President Trump a mandate to cut bloated bureaucracy, eliminate waste, and restore accountability to government," she wrote. "An activist judge is trying to stand in the way of those efforts at USAGM. Judge Lamberth has a pattern of activist rulings — and this case is no different."
What the Right Is Saying
Lake and her supporters have defended her actions as part of the Trump administration's mandate to reduce government waste and increase accountability. In her statement rejecting the ruling, Lake framed Lamberth as an "activist judge" attempting to block the administration's reform agenda.
The Trump administration has argued that the president has broad authority over executive branch agencies and that Congress should not dictate staffing or operational decisions at USAGM. Administration officials have said Lake's actions were necessary to eliminate what they characterized as bloated bureaucracy and wasteful spending.
Lake's defenders note that she was appointed to her role by the president and argue that judicial interference with executive branch decisions sets a problematic precedent. They have also pointed to the administration's authority to reorganize federal agencies as part of its oversight responsibilities.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive advocates and journalism organizations celebrated the ruling as a victory for the rule of law. Three named plaintiffs in the case — Voice of America journalists Patsy Widakuswara and Jessica Jerreat and USAGM chief strategy officer Kate Neeper — issued a joint statement saying they felt "vindicated and deeply grateful."
"It brings renewed hope and momentum to the next phase of our fight: restoring VOA's global operations and ensuring we continue to produce journalism, not propaganda," the plaintiffs wrote.
Skye Perryman, president and CEO of the legal advocacy group Democracy Forward, which served as co-counsel for the plaintiffs, said: "Today is a win in the fight against autocracy. The decision is a powerful affirmation of the rule of law."
Democratic lawmakers and progressive groups have criticized Lake's tenure at USAGM since she took on expanded powers in early 2025. They have argued that her actions threatened the independence of Voice of America, which has broadcast news in 49 languages and been a cornerstone of U.S. soft power since World War II.
What the Numbers Show
Under Lake's leadership, Voice of America reduced its language services from 49 to six languages, according to agency data from January. The network had broadcast news reaching countries where a free press is under duress or not financially viable.
The layoffs affected more than 1,000 journalists and staffers at USAGM and Voice of America. Lake also moved to kill all federal funds for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks.
Lake testified that she exercised approximately "95 percent" of the CEO's duties and powers. Judge Lamberth found that she had "de facto control of the agency" through delegation orders but was "plainly ineligible to serve" as acting CEO under federal law.
The agency was unable to fulfill basic requests for financial information due to the layoffs, according to an outside auditor hired by the State Department's inspector general.
The Bottom Line
If left standing, Lamberth's decision would open the door to reversing a series of sweeping acts taken by Lake, including reinstating laid-off staff and restoring funding to sister networks. The ruling sidesteps broader constitutional questions about presidential versus congressional authority, focusing instead on whether Lake had the legal authority to make the decisions she did.
Lake has indicated she will appeal, and the legal battle is likely to continue. The case represents one of the most significant courtroom rebukes to the Trump administration's efforts to reshape federal agencies and could set precedent for similar disputes over executive authority.
What to watch: How appellate courts rule on both the eligibility question and whether Lamberth had jurisdiction to invalidate Lake's actions. The outcome could affect the future of U.S.-funded international broadcasting and the balance of power between Congress and the executive branch.