Court voids Kari Lake’s USAGM leadership, halting VOA layoffs

Federal judge Royce C. Lamberth ruled that Kari Lake unlawfully ran the U.S. Agency for Global Media last year, voiding mass VOA layoffs and other actions, in a rebuke of her bid to lead the agency. The ruling cites violations of the appointments clause and the Federal Vacancies Reform Act, and VOA staff and press-freedom groups hailed it as a restoration of operations, though Lake said she will appeal and the impact on staff remains uncertain.