A federal judge has ordered the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) to reinstate over 1,000 employees cut under Kari Lake, who oversaw the job cuts as head of USAGM. The ruling is a significant blow to the Trump administration's efforts to gut VOA. The judge ruled that Lake's appointment violated federal law and that any actions she took in her role should be struck down. VOA Director Michael Abramowitz praised the ruling.