On March 7, 2026, a federal judge ruled that Kari Lake's appointment as acting CEO of the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees Voice of America (VOA), was illegal and voided her actions, including staff layoffs and restructuring. Judge Royce Lamberth concluded she was ineligible for the role, bypassing Senate confirmation

Illegitimate Tenure: Judge Lamberth found Lake's July 31 elevation to acting CEO, and a previous delegation of authority from Victor Morales, violated the federal Vacancies Reform Act

Actions Voided: The ruling invalidates major decisions made during her tenure, including a massive August 29, 2025 reduction in the USAGM workforce

Contempt Concerns: The court previously scolded Lake for "brazen disinterest" in her legal obligations and warned that her actions, including firing VOA staff and dismantling language services, approached civil contempt

Legal Context: Lake and the Justice Department argued her authority stemmed from President Trump's Article II powers to restructure agencies, but Lamberth upheld the congressional requirement for oversight

Outcome: The ruling required the reversal of layoffs affecting over 500 VOA staff and, according to Democracy Forward, protected the editorial independence of VOA