Journalists, federal workers, and unions have filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), its Acting Director Victor Morales, and Special Adviser Kari Lake. The legal action challenges the closure of the agency and claims it unlawfully silences global media. Filed in the Southern District of New York, the lawsuit argues that USAGM has not fulfilled its legal obligations and has violated journalists’ freedoms by ordering staff not to work, suspending contractors, shutting down services, and locking agency doors.
The plaintiffs include several unions such as the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), The NewsGuild-CWA, the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA), Reporters Without Borders (RSF), and seven individual workers. VOA White House Bureau Chief Patsy Widakuswara is leading the case. Legal representation is provided by various organizations including Democracy Forward and State Democracy Defenders Fund.
According to AFGE National President Everett Kelley, “Voice of America was founded to spread the truth and fight propaganda from lawless authoritarian regimes—so it’s no surprise that the Trump administration is trying to dismantle it.” AFSCME President Lee Saunders added that silencing VOA is “nothing short of anti-American.”
The plaintiffs seek immediate relief to reverse USAGM’s closure. NewsGuild-CWA President Jon Schleuss emphasized their commitment to defending press freedom: “We’ll do whatever it takes to support that fight.” Tom Yazdgerdi from AFSA noted that dismantling USAGM undermines America’s global credibility.
David Seide from Government Accountability Project said their intention with this lawsuit is “to stop the bleeding,” while Andrew G. Celli Jr., representing some plaintiffs, highlighted their dedication to having these voices heard in court.
Democracy Forward’s Skye Perryman criticized the shutdown as part of an “extreme and authoritarian playbook.” Ambassador Norman Eisen from State Democracy Defenders Fund condemned attempts to dismantle VOA as an attack on press freedoms.
Clayton Weimers from RSF USA warned that Trump’s actions could encourage harsher crackdowns against journalists globally. Thibaut Bruttin from Reporters sans frontières described Trump’s decision as illegal and detrimental to citizens’ access to trustworthy information.
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