Judge Rules Kari Lake's Actions at Global Media Agency Unlawful

A federal judge has ruled that Kari Lake acted unlawfully during her time at the U.S. Agency for Global Media. This decision invalidates many of her actions, including mass layoffs.
By Newsroom | Politics, Law |

A federal judge has ruled that Kari Lake acted unlawfully during her time overseeing the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), the parent agency of the Voice of America (VOA). The ruling invalidates numerous actions taken by Lake between July and November of last year, including mass layoffs and the termination of contracts, which were aimed at dismantling the agency.

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The decision, delivered by U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth, found that Lake’s appointment and subsequent management of USAGM violated federal law. Specifically, the ruling touches upon issues concerning the Federal Vacancies Reform Act and the Constitution's Appointments Clause. This judgment was a response to legal challenges brought by VOA journalists and a union representing federal employees, who argued that Lake’s actions exceeded her legal authority.

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Lake, a staunch ally of former President Trump, has stated her intention to appeal the ruling, criticizing it as an "activist ruling." Her efforts to lead the agency reportedly involved significant cuts, impacting over 1,000 staff positions and scaling back news operations. Despite these actions, Congress had appropriated substantial funding for the agency in the current fiscal year, exceeding Lake’s requests.

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The ruling casts doubt on the legality of the Trump administration's broader attempts to reshape or diminish government media outlets. While the immediate impact on VOA operations remains to be fully seen, the decision appears to reverse Lake’s attempts to significantly reduce the organization's staff and functions. The VOA, a long-standing international broadcaster, has reportedly been operating with a reduced staff and in fewer languages following Lake’s tenure.

Lake’s role at USAGM, where she is currently listed as deputy CEO on the agency’s website, was part of a larger initiative by the Trump administration to influence or restructure U.S. international broadcasting. This initiative included attempts to defund the agency, though Congress ultimately provided considerable financial backing. Lake’s appointment to oversee USAGM did not receive Senate confirmation, a point central to the legal challenges.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What did the judge rule about Kari Lake's time at the U.S. Agency for Global Media?
A federal judge ruled that Kari Lake acted unlawfully during her time overseeing the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM). The judge found her appointment and management violated federal law.
Q: What specific actions by Kari Lake were invalidated by the judge's ruling?
The judge invalidated numerous actions taken by Lake between July and November last year. This includes mass layoffs of staff and the termination of contracts, which were part of her efforts to change the agency.
Q: Why did the VOA journalists and federal employees' union challenge Kari Lake's actions?
They challenged her actions because they argued that Lake exceeded her legal authority. Their legal challenges focused on issues related to the Federal Vacancies Reform Act and the Constitution's Appointments Clause.
Q: What has Kari Lake said about the judge's decision?
Kari Lake, an ally of former President Trump, has stated she plans to appeal the ruling. She called the decision an "activist ruling" and criticized its basis.
Q: What could be the impact of this ruling on the Voice of America (VOA)?
The ruling casts doubt on the legality of efforts to reshape government media outlets. It appears to reverse Lake's attempts to reduce VOA's staff and functions, though the full impact is still being seen.