A federal judge accused the Trump administration of failing to comply with his orders regarding the restoration of Voice of America’s activities and the clarification of its operations. U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth set a deadline of August 13 for the administration to detail its plan to revive VOA, which has been mostly offline since March. Lamberth emphasized the necessity for the administration to account for the $260 million designated by Congress for VOA’s activities this year. Kari Lake, the Trump-appointed adviser overseeing government news agencies, disclosed that 85% of VOA employees and U.S. Agency for Global Media staff had been dismissed as part of an efficiency initiative. Lamberth pointed out the established procedure for adjusting previously allocated funding, indicating that Congress must approve such changes, a step taken recently for NPR and PBS funding. He criticized the administration for evasive responses and withholding vital details requested in previous court directives. Lamberth expressed concerns that the administration might be delaying budget allocation in an attempt to avoid fulfilling Congress’s intentions, labeling such actions as ‘wasteful’. The White House refrained from immediate comment.
Judge Reprimands Trump Administration Over Voice of America Restoration Delay
