Judge Lamberth's Ruling Invalidates Kari Lake's Actions at USAGM

Landmark Ruling Invalidates Acting CEO's Actions at USAGM

In a significant legal decision, a federal judge in Washington, D.C., has nullified the tenure of Kari Lake as Acting CEO of the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), citing her service as unlawful. This verdict deals a decisive blow to efforts that aimed to cut jobs at Voice of America (VOA) and revoke union rights, impacting federal workers and journalism practices globally.

Judge Royce Lamberth's ruling emerged from a legal challenge initiated by labor unions, press freedom advocates, and journalists who argued that Lake's actions, including an attempted reduction in force (RIF) on August 29, 2025, were illegal. The court's decision effectively halts the RIF, which threatened hundreds of jobs at VOA, safeguarding the positions of those employed.

The coalition of plaintiffs, composed of 13 entities, includes unions like the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), alongside individual employees such as VOA's White House bureau chief Patsy Widakuswara. Press organizations Reporters Sans Frontières (RSF) and Reporters Without Borders, Inc. (RSF USA) also joined the lawsuit.

Legal representation for the plaintiffs was provided by firms such as Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel LLP and advocacy groups including Democracy Forward and the Government Accountability Project. These entities have celebrated the ruling as a triumph for union rights and press freedom.

Following the court decision, AFSCME President Lee Saunders stated, “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… Yet time and again, this administration has attempted to strip these proud AFSCME members of their collective bargaining freedoms and their jobs.”

Everett Kelley, AFGE National President, remarked, “Today’s ruling is a victory for Voice of America workers, their unions, journalism, and the global free press... This case is proof that fighting for press freedom matters,” echoed Clayton Weimers, Executive Director of RSF USA.

Additionally, attempts by Lake and the administration to dismantle collective bargaining rights were separately contested and overturned, reinstating union protections. The court ruling further supports this reversal, invalidating Lake's authoritative capacity as CEO.

John Dinkelman, president of the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA), emphasized, “Voice of America exists to tell the truth to the world—and in doing so, it represents one of America’s most important sources of soft power.” His sentiments were shared by Jon Schleuss of The NewsGuild-CWA, who criticized the unlawful cuts implemented by Lake.

For further insights into the case, a copy of the judge's ruling is available here.