A federal appeals court panel on Tuesday ruled that former Voice of America (VOA) head Kari Lake unlawfully terminated Michael Abramowitz as director, upholding a lower court's decision that he should be reinstated.
The three-judge panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit concluded that Lake's dismissal of Abramowitz lacked the required independent approval, a move that came amid the Trump administration's broader efforts to dismantle the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), VOA's parent organization.
In the panel's opinion, the judges rejected arguments from defendants that the district court lacked authority to block Abramowitz's removal without the Broadcasting Board's consent. "That argument, too, is foreclosed by our precedent," the panel wrote. "Defendants contest the district court's power to enjoin Abramowitz's removal, but they point to nothing to counter his contention that no other form of relief would redress his injury."
Abramowitz, in a statement reported by Politico, expressed gratitude for the ruling and said he looked forward to returning "to the important work Voice of America does worldwide on behalf of the American people."
The appeals court unanimously affirmed the decision by Senior Judge Royce C. Lamberth of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, who had ruled last year that USAGM lacked the authority to fire Abramowitz and that the Reagan appointee could reinstate him.
Judge Lamberth had previously ordered VOA to rehire employees who were let go after President Trump significantly downsized USAGM in March 2025, accusing the administration of a "flagrant and nearly year-long" failure to comply with congressional mandates by cutting staff and resources. In April 2025, he indefinitely blocked the administration's attempts to dismantle VOA.
Abramowitz, along with several VOA reporters, unions, and the nonprofit Reporters Without Borders, filed suit against the Trump administration over the effort to disband the broadcaster. Lake, who Lamberth determined was leading the agency without legal authority, had been a vocal critic of VOA and defended the administration's overhaul. She said she "strongly" disagreed with the ruling that she was illegally in charge, stating, "The American people gave President Trump a mandate to cut bloated bureaucracy, eliminate waste, and restore accountability to government. An activist judge is trying to stand in the way of those efforts at USAGM."
The Trump administration's executive order in March 2025 sought to gut USAGM, which also oversees other international networks such as Radio Free Europe and Radio Free Asia. The court's decision marks a significant setback for the administration's efforts to reshape the agency.
This ruling comes as other legal challenges to the administration's actions are making their way through the courts. For instance, the Supreme Court is set to hear a case that could have implications for property rights. Meanwhile, the justices have also signaled skepticism about expanding certain legal claims, which could affect future litigation against government officials.
The White House has been contacted for comment on the appeals court's decision, but no response has been reported yet.
