Federal judge voids Trump's USAGM CEO appointment in sweeping ruling
A U.S. federal judge has struck down the Trump administration's appointment of Kathleen K. Lake as acting CEO of the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM). The ruling declares her tenure unlawful and casts doubt on key decisions made during her time in office.
This marks the third time Judge Royce Lamberth has ruled against the administration in cases involving the Voice of America (VOA).
Judge Lamberth found that Lake was ineligible to serve as acting CEO because she was not employed by USAGM when the previous leader resigned. Under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act, any actions taken by someone not lawfully in a vacant office carry no legal weight and cannot be approved later.
The ruling voids all decisions Lake made between 31 July and 19 November 2025. Among these was a planned reduction-in-force affecting hundreds of VOA employees, currently suspended by a separate court order. The administration had previously cut VOA broadcasts from 49 languages to just four, reducing outreach to 420 million people across over 100 countries.
Lamberth also dismissed the administration's claim that Lake could hold CEO authority through delegation from a prior acting chief. In response, Lake criticised the decision, calling it part of a pattern of activist rulings and vowing to appeal.
The court's decision leaves Lake's actions without legal effect. This includes the suspended staffing cuts, which remain on hold pending further review. The ruling also raises questions about the future leadership and operations of USAGM and VOA.
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