🔗 Share this article American Jurist Mandates Trump Administration to Resume Operations at Voice of America. Broadcasting tools on a desk. (Image Credit: Getty Images) An US judge has declared that the practical closure of the VOA last year was unlawful and has ordered the return of hundreds of its journalists. Court Mandate Sets One-Week Deadline District Court Judge Royce Lamberth has granted the government seven days to put the international broadcaster back on air. Wartime Origins and Trump-Era Shutdown The VOA was originally created in World War Two to counter Nazi disinformation. Only a short time after being sworn in again as president, Donald Trump signed an presidential directive to shut down the broadcaster, which his officials claimed had political bias. The order also targeted outlets such as Radio Free Europe and Radio Free Asia, stating they should be “eliminated to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law”. Management Shake-Up and Widespread Dismissals President Trump named Kari Lake to lead the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), the oversight body that oversees and funds the VOA and related networks. Lake proceeded to terminate more than 85% of the agency's employees—over 1,000 staff at VOA by itself—with only a handful of employees in their jobs. Most of the affected 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. Court’s Rationale and Ruling Last week, Judge Lamberth ruled that Lake lacked 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 ruling, the judge described the decision to fire the journalists as “arbitrary and capricious,”, adding that the government had failed to consider legislation that dictate what languages and regions the VOA must serve. “Defendants have provided no a principled basis for their decision,” Lamberth wrote. Reporters’ Lawsuit and Reaction Three VOA journalists had filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration. One of them, Patsy Widakuswara, said she was deeply grateful for the judge's decision. “We hope the American people will continue to support our mission to produce factual reporting, not biased messaging,” she told reporters. Unclear Next Steps and Wider Implications It is not clear if Lake's nominated 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 almost 50 languages. Trump's attacks of the VOA form part of his wider criticism of the US media, which research indicates American news consumers view as deeply divided.