Flipping the Script: Trump Admin Wins Upper Hand in Voice of America Standoff
Court upholds VOA restructure, considered a modernization step by Kari Lake: A significant win declared for President Trump
In a whirlwind of legal maneuvers, the Trump administration has scored a significant victory in its ongoing tussle with Voice of America (VOA) employees over the agency's operations. Kari Lake, U.S. Agency for Global Media senior advisor, joins us to discuss the recent court ruling.
In a turn of events, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit has granted a stay on a lower court's order that mandated the reinstatement of over 1,000 VOA employees and the resumption of full broadcasting operations. This decision enables the administration to continue its efforts to modernize USAGM and its affiliates, including VOA.
"This is indeed a triumph for President Trump's Article II powers and USAGM," Lake shared with our team, Digital. "Our objective remains to steer President Trump's America First agenda, which emphasizes efficiency and the shedding of waste, fraud, and abuse."
VOICE OF AMERICA'S ROAD TO CONTROVERSY
The journey leading up to this point has been marked by controversy. An executive order issued by the Trump administration in March resulted in the administrative leave of around 1,300 VOA employees and the termination of numerous contracts, suspending VOA's operations for the first time in its 83-year history.
Critics argued that the order aimed to dismantle VOA, citing the broadcaster's alleged misalignment with the administration's views. In response, VOA employees sued the administration, leading to an initial court victory that mandated the restoration of VOA operations and the reinstatement of fired or furloughed workers. The Trump Administration quickly appealed this decision.
The recent appellate court decision highlighted the judiciary's deference to executive authority in matters concerning federal employment and contractual decisions. The court noted that the district court likely lacked jurisdiction to interfere with the administration's personnel actions and funding decisions, particularly regarding grant agreements with non-federal entities like Radio Free Asia and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks.
A BATTLE THAT MAY REACH THE SUPREME COURT
This legal tussle is far from over. With ongoing litigation on the horizon, the Trump administration may continue challenging court decisions, pushing potentially towards the Supreme Court. This struggle underscores the administration's assertion of executive branch authority under Article II of the Constitution.
Stay tuned for future updates as this intriguing, complex saga unfolds.
- Kari Lake, U.S. Agency for Global Media senior advisor, has expressed that the recent court ruling granting a stay on the reinstatement of over 1,000 Voice of America (VOA) employees and the resumption of full broadcasting operations is a triumph for President Trump's Article II powers and USAGM.
- Critics have argued that the Trump administration's executive order resulting in the administrative leave of around 1,300 VOA employees and the termination of numerous contracts aimed to dismantle VOA, citing its alleged misalignment with the administration's views.
- In a response to the legal maneuvering, VOA employees sued the administration, which led to an initial court victory mandating the restoration of VOA operations and the reinstatement of fired or furloughed workers.
- The recent appellate court decision highlighted the judiciary's deference to executive authority in matters concerning federal employment and contractual decisions, noting that the district court likely lacked jurisdiction to interfere with the administration's personnel actions and funding decisions, particularly regarding grant agreements with non-federal entities like Radio Free Asia and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks.
- This legal tussle may reach the Supreme Court, as the ongoing litigation indicates the Trump administration's continuation in challenging court decisions and asserting executive branch authority under Article II of the Constitution.
