A federal judge ruled on Saturday that Kari Lake’s leadership of the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM) for much of last year violated federal law, invalidating a sweeping series of actions she took to cut staff and end many operations at its Voice of America (VOA) unit.
In another blow to the Donald Trump administration’s attempts to diminish various government agencies, US District Judge Royce Lamberth granted a summary judgment in favour of plaintiffs – including VOA journalists and a union representing federal employees – who argued that Lake’s appointment as acting CEO and actions she took in that role ran afoul of the Federal Vacancies Reform Act and the constitution’s Appointments Clause.
Lamberth ruled that Lake was ineligible to serve as acting CEO because she was not employed by USAGM when former CEO Amanda Bennett resigned in January 2025, and had not been confirmed by the Senate to any other federal post.
Lake officially joined USAGM in March as a senior adviser. A November 21 news release from the agency called her deputy CEO.
The judge also rejected the administration’s argument that Lake could wield CEO authority through a delegation from previous acting CEO Victor Morales.
Saturday’s decision marks at least the third time Lamberth has ruled against the Trump administration in cases involving the Voice of America. The judge in April and September halted plans that would have put many VOA employees out of work, although the April ruling was later overturned by an appeals court.
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