A US Federal judge on Friday ordered Donald Trump’s administration to temporarily pause its efforts to shut down Voice of America (VOA) and fire 1,300 employees working in the news organisation. The ruling came after the journalists and other employees of the American news service were abruptly placed on leave earlier this month.
District Judge J Paul Oetken, who was overseeing the case, said on Friday that US President Donald Trump and his government could not unilaterally terminate Voice of America and related radio programs since the news service was approved and funded by the US Congress. The federal judge noted that rescinding funds for these programs would require congressional approval.
Oetken did not order VOA to resume broadcasts or any form of operation. However, the ruling made it clear that employees should not be fired until court proceedings could determine whether the shutdown was “arbitrary and capricious” in violation of federal law, Reuters reported.
“This is a decisive victory for press freedom and the First Amendment, and a sharp rebuke to an administration that has shown utter disregard for the principles that define our democracy,” said Andrew Celli, an attorney for the plaintiffs, after the hearing.
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