🔗 Share this article American Judge Orders Former President Trump's Administration to Resume Operations at VOA. Broadcasting tools on a desk. (Image Courtesy: Getty Images) An US court has determined that the effective closure of the Voice of America last year was unlawful and has ordered the reinstatement of many of its journalists. Court Mandate Issues One-Week Deadline Federal Judge Royce Lamberth has given authorities one week to get the VOA broadcasting again. Historical Roots and Trump-Era Closure The VOA was originally set up in World War Two with the aim of countering Nazi propaganda. Just weeks after returning to office as president, Donald Trump issued an executive order to shut down the broadcaster, which his administration claimed had left-wing bias. The order also included networks such as Radio Free Europe and Radio Free Asia, stating they should be “eliminated to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law”. Management Changes and Widespread Dismissals President Trump named Kari Lake to lead the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), the oversight body that manages and finances the VOA and other networks. Lake proceeded to terminate the vast majority of the agency's employees—more than 1,000 staff at VOA by itself—with only a small number of employees in their jobs. Most of the dismissed staff have been on paid administrative leave since last year. This included Persian Service reporters who were temporarily|called back to work after Israel attacked Iran last June. Judge’s Reasoning and Ruling Last week, Judge Lamberth ruled that Lake did not have the legal power to order the suspension of the USAGM workforce, as she had not been confirmed by the US Senate. In this week's decision, the judge labeled the decision to sack the journalists as “arbitrary and capricious,”, adding that the government had ignored legislation that determine what languages and regions the VOA must serve. “The government have provided no a reasonable basis for their decision,” Lamberth wrote. Reporters’ Legal Challenge and Reaction Three VOA journalists had sued the Trump administration. One of them, Patsy Widakuswara, expressed being deeply grateful for the judge's decision. “We hope the American people will keep support our mission to produce factual reporting, not biased messaging,” she said to the Associated Press. Unclear Next Steps and Wider Context It is not clear if Lake's proposed successor, Sarah Rogers—whose appointment needs Senate confirmation—will challenge the ruling. Prior to its shutdown, the VOA broadcast TV, radio, and digital content in nearly 50 languages. Trump's criticisms of the VOA are part of his wider criticism of the US media, which studies suggest American news consumers view as deeply divided.