A federal judge in Washington has ruled that Kari Lake unlawfully served as chief executive of the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees vital international broadcasters, including Voice of America. U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth granted summary judgment on Saturday to a group of employees led by Voice of America (VOA) White House bureau chief Patsy Widakuswara, nullifying many actions taken by Lake during her controversial tenure. This includes significant staff layoffs and the placement of many employees on administrative leave.
In his 17-page opinion, Judge Lamberth stated that Lake, appointed by former President Donald Trump, violated the Constitution’s appointments clause and the Federal Vacancies Reform Act in her capacity as head of USAGM. He described her actions as an “unlawful effort to transform Lake into the CEO of U.S. Agency for Global Media in all but name.”
This ruling is part of a broader pattern of legal setbacks for the Trump administration’s attempts to dismantle USAGM, a federal agency responsible for funding various international broadcasters. In response to the ruling, Lake expressed her disagreement, claiming that an “activist judge” is obstructing efforts to reform the agency, which she has criticized as “the most corrupt agency in Washington.” She vowed to appeal the decision.
Lake’s leadership at USAGM has been fraught with challenges since assuming her role. Following an executive order from Trump that aimed to reduce the agency’s operations, she laid off hundreds of contractors and retained most staff in a state of limbo. Two lawsuits challenging her actions were filed but have often led to further complications for the agency.
Judge Lamberth, who was nominated to the federal bench by President Ronald Reagan, has consistently obstructed Lake’s attempts to close the agency, repeatedly highlighting her failure to fulfill legal obligations related to broadcasting. During her deposition, she claimed she learned of Trump’s executive order on the same day it was announced.
This ruling has been welcomed by the plaintiffs, who expressed gratitude and viewed the decision as a validation of their stance against Lake’s actions. Widakuswara and her colleagues described the ruling as a “powerful step toward undoing the damage” inflicted on an institution critical to American global media presence. They expressed optimism about restoring VOA’s operations and reaffirming their commitment to journalism.
While it remains uncertain what Lake’s future at USAGM will look like following the ruling, Judge Lamberth has asked the government to clarify who is serving as the acting CEO by March 11 and to establish a succession plan for the position. This pivotal moment for USAGM could signify a shift back towards its foundational mission of unbiased reporting and effective international communication.