A federal judge on Saturday invalidated mass layoffs at Voice of America and ruled that Kari Lake's appointment as acting CEO of the U.S. Agency for Global Media violated constitutional requirements.

U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth of Washington, D.C., determined that Lake's oversight of the federal media agency violated the Constitution's appointments clause. The ruling voided actions taken by Lake in 2025, including job cuts at the government-funded news organization.

The U.S. Agency for Global Media serves as the parent organization of Voice of America, which broadcasts news internationally. Lake had been serving as acting CEO of the agency when she implemented the layoffs that were subsequently challenged in court.

Judge Lamberth's decision represents a significant legal setback for the administration's efforts to restructure the government-funded media operations. The appointments clause requires certain federal positions to be filled through specific constitutional procedures.

The ruling restores the employment status of Voice of America staff members who had been terminated under Lake's leadership. Voice of America operates as an independent federal agency responsible for international broadcasting and news services funded by the U.S. government.