US appeals court blocks ruling returning VOA staff to work

DW ^ | May 4, 2025

[11th_VA]

A federal appeals court on Saturday blocked a ruling that had ordered the Trump administration to allow Voice of America (VOA) to go back on air.

The publicly funded broadcaster fell silent in March after an executive order by US President Donald Trump effectively gutted the network.

The US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), the network's parent agency, placed over 1,000 employees on leave and terminated 600 contractors following Trump's directive. The broadcaster has been off air for almost two months.

Trump's executive order was, however, challenged in court, and US District Judge Royce Lamberth on April 22 ordered the administration to "take all necessary steps" to restore VOA employees and contractors to their positions.

But on Saturday afternoon, a federal appeals court in a 2-1 decision issued a stay of the lower court ruling. The appeals court ruled that Lamberth lacked jurisdiction to order the VOA employees to return to work.

US Circuit Judge Cornelia Pillard dissented from the ruling, saying it "all but guarantees that the networks will no longer exist in any meaningful form by the time this case is fully adjudicated."

The appeals court ruling came after reports earlier had suggested that VOA was preparing to resume operations next week.

Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders had said VOA staff could begin work as early as next week, citing communication between its lawyers and the Department of Justice.

Kari Lake, a former broadcaster appointed by Trump to oversee USAGM, welcomed the appellate court ruling. "BIG WIN in our legal cases at USAGM & Voice of America. Huge victory for President Trump and Article II," Lake wrote on X.

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[11th_VA]

Another article states the employees will not be paid for April. Time to find other jobs

[blackdog]

If we could teach federal bureaucrats to weld, machine parts, pull wire, operate a backhoe, lay shingles, or solder plumbing fittings, the world would be a far better and less expensive place.

[DAC21]

"US Circuit Judge Cornelia Pillard dissented from the ruling, saying it "all but guarantees that the networks will no longer exist in any meaningful form by the time this case is fully adjudicated."

Nothing gets by this Obama mominated Ivy League ditz, boo fricking hoo.

[Bobbyvotes]

I know a government contractor maintaining wireless communications in federal buildings who owns 2 multi-million dollar mansions, $550,000 boat and a 6 seater aircraft. Try doing that in private sector.

[Bernard]

Would you fly in an airplane built by former VOA bureaucrats who cross-trained into that field?

Let's start with something simple. Would you sit on a toilet installed by former VOA bureaucrats?

[metmom]

NOBODY is ever guaranteed a job anywhere.

And no one should be forced to employ someone they don’t want to.

[dgbrown]

1600 people to run a radio station?

[blackdog]

We live in a toilet of federal bureaucracy.

[ByteMercenary]

Cornelia is full of krapp. All networks are not involved, only those that receive Fed funds.

[Timmy]

I think one of the things in this ruling not getting enough attention is the Appeals Court reinforcing the requirement to post a bond for any TRO. The courts, too, must obey the law.

[napscoordinator]

You don’t think Elon could own these? Many in the private sector are rich.

[Alas Babylon!]

Good catch. I missed that. It will have an effect.

But will district courts just ignore it?

[Mr. Lucky]

Would you trust a steam fitting welded by a government bureaucrat?

[blackdog]

The fitting welds are inspected by a government bureaucrat, so it is what it is.

[cgbg]

My 2025 joke is worth repeating.

Q. What is the difference between a federal employee and all other employees?

A. Federal employees have to be fired twice!

[Mr. Lucky]

Now that you mention it, that’s not a comforting thought.

[cgbg]

The employees are fired—for the second time.

They are done.

Judges from sea to shining sea can whine all they wish.

[blackdog]

The government had great metallurgical resources back in the 50's, 60,s, 70's, 80's. We were making nuclear submarines, nuclear power plants, and ships.

Every weld magnafluxed, and x-rayed by an inspector. When we gave up on manufacturing, we cut our own throats.

[hal ogen]

Unless these (former) government employees find some integrity and actually honestly “work” no one in their right mind would hire these laid-off parasites with bad attitudes. Business owners beware! These losers carry DEI and Woke attitudes that destroy all around them.

[Ditto]

The government had great metallurgical resources back in the 50's, 60,s, 70's, 80's. We were making nuclear submarines, nuclear power plants, and ships

Well, I worked on those nuclear power plants back in the 70s and 80s, and sorry, they weren’t “government welders or metallurgists. They were all private industry employees. The government pretty much only looked at the paperwork which probably weighed more than the nuclear plant. ;~)