By Sheri Walsh and Allen Cone UPI.com
A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to restore Voice of America and affiliated news services after ruling Tuesday that last month’s cuts were unconstitutional.
U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth ordered the U.S. Agency for Global Media to restore the staffs of VOA, Radio Free Asia and Middle East Broadcasting Network, and to resume all congressional funding to the news outlets. A preliminary injunction was not granted to Radio Free Europe on Tuesday after it filed a separate lawsuit.
“In short, the defendants had no method or approach towards shutting down USAGM that this court can discern,” said Lamberth, an appointee of former President Reagan.
“They took immediate and drastic action to slash USAGM, without considering its statutorily or constitutionally required functions as required by the plain language of the executive order, and without regard to the harm inflicted on employees, contractors, journalists and media consumers around the world,” Lamberth added.
Before taking office in January, President Donald Trump chose Kari Lake -- a former television news anchor and former gubernatorial and senatorial candidate in Arizona -- to lead the federally funded VOA. Lake said she found “waste, fraud and abuse run rampant” in the agency before Trump signed an executive order to eliminate USAGM, which oversees the international state media network.
Last month, VOA reporters, unions and the international free press advocacy nonprofit Reporters Without Borders sued the Trump administration over the order and its cuts.
While Trump called the federally funded news network “unnecessary,” lawyers accused the administration of silencing America’s interests abroad, including reports on Hamas, transgender rights or any negative coverage of Trump.
“They can use a scalpel or a sledgehammer; either way, it’s viewpoint discrimination,” lawyer Andrew Celli claimed in reference to the Department of Government Efficiency’s cuts under Elon Musk.
“The defendants have silenced VOA, canceled funds to affiliate networks and shut down all transmitters at foreign service stations abroad,” Judge Lamberth wrote.
“In sum, the irreparable harm that the plaintiffs allege impacts the very existence of USAGM, the health and safety of its journalists and employees, and the interests of the millions of reporters and listeners who depend on USAGM’s programming.”
Armed Forces Network to reduce radio programs next month
American Forces Network will reduce radio programming starting on May 1 to “better streamline operations,” the Department of Defense announced Monday.
Removed will be the AFN Legacy, Freedom Rock, The Blend and Joe Radio, according to a news release. Also, commercially produced podcasts will no longer be available on the audio streaming service, AFN Go.
The radio network will continue top-rated music, entertainment and news channels on its AFN Go app. AFN’s 24 Eagle radio stations around the world will continue serving U.S. overseas.
“AFN takes pride in its 83-year legacy of serving U.S. military audiences overseas,” a release said. “Along with enhancing troop morale, retention and recruiting, as well as safety and security, AFN continues to live up to its motto, ‘We Bring You Home. ‘ “
The military streaming service has more than 100,000 subscribers worldwide.
In the past year, the AFN Go app, which includes video, has seen audience growth of more than 30% with listeners streaming nearly 480,000 hours of radio programming in January. The AFN Go radio streaming app is free.
Armed Forces Radio Services was formed on May 26, 1942, as a single channel and became Armed Forces Radio & Television Service from 1954-2009 and then AFN afterward. AFN now also has social media accounts.
A television service was introduced in 1954 from Limestone Air Force Base in Maine.
“While millions of Americans serving overseas have tuned in AFN for popular entertainment, the network has served as a crucial tool for commanders to reach the force and their families, both on and off military installations, with critical information,” the Army said on the 80th year of the service in 2022. “During World War II, the network communicated messages to American forces advancing in Europe via mobile radio vans.”
There are approximately 166,000 U.S. active-duty troops overseas, which is about 12.8% of the 2.1 million total force, according to USA Facts from the Defense Manpower Data Center.
U.S. military personnel worldwide were able to watch Super Bowl LIX on Feb. 9 and earlier festivities live from New Orleans. Other games were available on the AFN Now app live and on demand, the second season this was offered.
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This story was originally published April 22, 2025 at 5:34 PM.
