A federal judge delivered a decisive ruling on Thursday, stating that Kari Lake, a former official in the Trump administration, cannot unilaterally terminate Michael Abramowitz, the director of Voice of America. The ruling emphasized that Lake is violating the law by attempting to remove Abramowitz without the necessary backing from an advisory panel established by Congress. This advisory committee was designed to protect the international broadcaster and its affiliated networks from political interference.
According to the ruling, Lake must receive explicit approval from the advisory panel, which consists of seven members. Following President Trump's inauguration, he dismissed six of the seven members and has not appointed replacements for Senate confirmation. This lack of a fully constituted advisory board effectively prevents Lake from taking any action against Abramowitz, as mandated by law.
U.S. Senior District Court Judge Royce C. Lamberth highlighted the illegality of the proposed reassignment of Abramowitz, which would have placed him in charge of a few employees at a shortwave radio transmission facility in Greenville, N.C.. In his ruling, Lamberth stated, “The defendants do not even feign that their efforts to remove Abramowitz comply with that statutory requirement.” This pointed remark underscores the legal missteps taken by Lake and her team.
Judge Lamberth is currently overseeing two lawsuits concerning Lake's attempts to dismantle the Voice of America and its parent agency, the U.S. Agency for Global Media. Abramowitz himself is one of the plaintiffs in these legal proceedings, advocating for the adherence to laws that protect the agency’s operation and integrity.
Following the ruling, Abramowitz expressed his satisfaction with Judge Lamberth's decision, stating, “I am very gratified by Judge Lamberth's ruling and his finding that the U.S. Agency for Global Media must follow the law as Congress mandated.” He emphasized the urgent need for the Voice of America to restore its programming, which plays a crucial role in promoting U.S. security and influence globally. The law mandates that Voice of America serve as a reliable and authoritative source of news abroad.
Under Lake's oversight, the Voice of America has faced significant cutbacks, losing all but four of its 49 language services. Reports indicate that over 90% of its workforce has either been laid off or put on leave, resulting in a dramatic decline in original content and news coverage.
Lake has indicated that the Trump administration plans to appeal Judge Lamberth's ruling. In a statement, she noted, “Elections have consequences, and President Trump runs the executive branch.” Lake expressed her belief that the Constitution will ultimately be upheld, despite her dissatisfaction with the current ruling.
During court proceedings, attorneys from the U.S. Justice Department referenced President Trump's executive order from March, which aimed to reduce the network to its minimum operational level as permitted by law. Judge Lamberth highlighted the problematic nature of eliminating the Korean language service, which Congress has mandated should be maintained.
Judge Lamberth, a conservative jurist appointed by President Ronald Reagan, has been critical of the government's arguments regarding executive power. He stated that the law protecting the Voice of America's journalistic independence is constitutional and cannot be dismissed as an infringement on the president's authority.
As the legal battles continue, the future of the Voice of America hangs in the balance. The outcome of these lawsuits will not only impact the agency's operational framework but also its mission to provide unbiased information to international audiences. The ongoing discourse surrounding executive authority and statutory obligations will likely shape the direction of U.S. international broadcasting for years to come.
