Judge Voids Mass Layoffs at VOA, Siding with AFSCME and Other Unions

Federal Judge Overturns Voice of America Layoffs, Citing Illegal Appointment

In a decisive legal ruling, a federal judge has nullified the mass layoffs at Voice of America (VOA) that occurred last year, marking a significant win for unionized federal workers. This outcome stems from a lawsuit spearheaded by AFSCME and other groups challenging the Trump administration's appointment of Kari Lake as the acting CEO of the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM).

Judge Royce Lamberth of the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. declared Lake's appointment unlawful, effectively voiding all her actions since March 2025. This includes the controversial reduction-in-force initiated by Lake in August, which had aimed to cut hundreds of jobs at VOA. The legal proceedings had temporarily halted these layoffs, but the recent judgment has reversed them entirely.

AFSCME, along with the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA), and the News Guild CWA, represented the affected employees in this legal battle. The News Guild CWA specifically advocates for workers within a private grantee network funded by USAGM.

"This ruling is a major victory for the federal workers who Kari Lake and this administration have been attempting to illegally fire for the last year," stated Lee Saunders, President of AFSCME. "Voice of America employees are dedicated public servants who provide hope for freedom to those living under oppressive governments around the world. Yet time and again, this administration has attempted to strip these proud AFSCME members of their collective bargaining freedoms and their jobs."

The impacted VOA employees are part of AFSCME Local 1418 and District Council 20.

In addition to attempting mass job cuts, Lake and the administration sought to dismantle employees' collective bargaining rights. However, unions such as AFSCME and AFGE successfully defended these rights, ensuring the restoration of union agreements.

"AFSCME members will continue to stand with the public service workers who defend democracy and ensure the voices of freedom are heard around the world," emphasized Saunders, reflecting the union's commitment to protecting its members' rights and roles.