Federal Judge Strikes Down Kari Lake's Leadership at U.S. Agency for Global Media
A federal judge has delivered a significant ruling against the Trump administration's efforts to reshape government agencies, declaring that Kari Lake's leadership of the U.S. Agency for Global Media for much of last year violated federal law. U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth granted a summary judgment on Saturday, invalidating a series of actions Lake took to reduce staff and dismantle operations at the agency's Voice of America unit.
Legal Grounds for the Ruling
Judge Lamberth found that Lake's appointment as acting CEO and her subsequent decisions contravened the Federal Vacancies Reform Act and the Constitution's Appointments Clause. The plaintiffs, including VOA journalists and a federal employees union, argued successfully that Lake was ineligible to serve as acting CEO because she was not employed by USAGM when former CEO Amanda Bennett resigned in January 2025 and had not received Senate confirmation for any federal position. Lake officially joined USAGM in March as a senior adviser, with an agency news release later referring to her as deputy CEO.
The judge also dismissed the administration's claim that Lake could exercise CEO authority through a delegation from previous acting CEO Victor Morales, reinforcing the legal standards for federal appointments.
Impact on Voice of America and Broader Implications
Under the Vacancies Act, actions taken by an individual not lawfully serving in a vacant office "shall have no force or effect" and cannot be ratified. Consequently, Judge Lamberth ruled that any actions Lake took between July 31 and November 19, 2025, are void. This includes a reduction-in-force affecting hundreds of employees, which remains under a court-ordered suspension.
Voice of America, which previously broadcast in 49 languages to 420 million people across over 100 countries, had been limited to just four languages under the administration's restructuring efforts. The ruling threatens the legal standing of these and other decisions made during Lake's tenure.
Historical Context and Reactions
This decision marks at least the third time Judge Lamberth has ruled against the Trump administration in cases involving Voice of America. In April and September, he halted plans that would have resulted in significant job losses at VOA, though the April ruling was later overturned by an appeals court.
In response to the latest ruling, Lake vowed to appeal, stating, "Judge Lamberth has a pattern of activist rulings — and this case is no different." Lawyers for the plaintiffs did not immediately return requests for comment, highlighting the ongoing legal tensions.
The case underscores broader debates over federal appointments and agency governance, with implications for how temporary leadership roles are filled and actions validated in government entities.
