The lawsuits fighting to save VOA
A look at the three court cases fighting to help restore VOA’s global operations and to ensure that it produces journalism, not propaganda.
The courthouse for the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
Widakuswara v. Lake
Coalition sues to return employees to work
March 21, 2025 • This case was filed one week after President Donald Trump signed his March 14, 2025, executive order that began dismantling VOA. Lead plaintiff, VOA White House Bureau Chief Patsy Widakuswara, was joined in filing the suit by five other VOA employees, one USAGM staff member, four labor unions, and the press freedom group Reporters Without Borders. The lawsuit has led to major victories for the plaintiffs, including a March 2026 ruling that called for VOA's broadcasts to be restored.
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Abramowitz v. Lake
VOA director launches suit to restore VOA
March 26, 2025 • This case was filed days after Widakuswara v. Lake and the two cases largely moved together through U.S. District Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals. Lead plaintiff VOA Director Michael Abramowitz was joined by three VOA journalists in filing the suit. In August 2025, the case led to a ruling that prevented USAGM from firing Abramowitz.
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Newhouse v. Rigas
Journalists sue to protect VOA's journalism
March 23, 2026 • Filed almost exactly one year after the first lawsuit, this case accuses the administration of using VOA to broadcast propaganda and it aims to protect VOA's independent journalism. The suit is led by Barry Newhouse, the former acting director of VOA’s Central News division, who is joined by three other VOA journalists as well as media rights and freedom of expression groups Reporters Without Borders and Pen America.
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Related lawsuits
Unions sue over bargaining rights
Two unions representing federal workers sued President Donald Trump in September 2025 over his executive order stripping employees at USAGM and VOA of their collective bargaining rights. In November 2025, a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction reinstating the unions' rights. However, an appeals court stayed that ruling while the litigation plays out. Read the lawsuit.
USAGM grantees sue the agency
Sister organizations to VOA, including Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, the Middle East Broadcasting Networks, and the Open Technology Fund, all sued USAGM after it canceled their congressionally appropriated grants in March 2025. While part of USAGM, the outlets are set up differently than VOA. They are private, non-profit organizations that are funded through federal grant agreements. Read the lawsuits by: RFE/RL, RFA, MBN and OTF.