< img src ="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2025/03/28/multimedia/BIZ-VOA-fgwb/BIZ-VOA-fgwb-facebookJumbo.jpg"alt= ""> A federal judge on Friday temporarily stopped the Trump administration's efforts to take apart Voice of America, the government-funded international broadcaster whose prospective death has alarmed advocates for press freedoms.The judge, J. Paul Oetken of the U.S. District Court in Manhattan, ruled after a hearing on a claim submitted by Voice of America reporters and their unions. The fit argues that the administration's actions, like putting numerous reporters at the company on paid leave, breached the journalists'First Change rights.Andrew G. Celli Jr., a lawyer for the reporters who brought the suit, stated the judge had actually explained throughout the hearing that he would release a short-term restraining order. “This is a definitive victory for press flexibility and the First Modification, and a sharp rebuke to an administration that has shown utter neglect for the principles that define our democracy,”Mr. Celli stated in a statement.A different claim, brought by the

director of Voice of America, Michael Abramowitz, is also pending.Inquiries to the leadership of Voice of America and the Company for Global Media were not right away returned.Voice of America, which was founded in 1942, offers news programs in 49 languages

to dozens of countries around the world, including locations, like China and Iran, where citizens have restricted access to independent journalism. Voice of America had actually long been considered a key part of America's soft-power efforts to promote democracy overseas.The charter for Voice of America, which has a budget plan of roughly$270 million, was designed to secure its editorial independence. President Trump, nevertheless, has actually implicated the broadcaster of having a left-wing predisposition, and he selected Kari Lake, a close ally and former right-wing TV anchor, to act as an unique advisor managing its parent agency.On March 14, Mr. Trump signed an executive order that directed the Firm for Global Media to get rid of much of its functions. Workers have stated they lost access to work e-mail, and some of its radio frequencies in Asia and the Middle East have actually gone dark. On Friday afternoon, all of the firm's workers, who consist of the journalists at Voice

of America, received a human resources email welcoming them to resign their positions; the workers would get pay and benefits through September. Ms. Lake called attention to the offer in a social media post, adding,”Have a fantastic weekend.”Because retaking office, Mr. Trump has actually pressed borders in his numerous efforts to weaken the American news media. The White House has actually avoided reporters from The Associated Press from attending certain occasions and started handpicking which media outlets can take part in the press pool that covers presidential actions. Mr. Trump and his allies have actually likewise taken legal action against several news outlets.Earlier this week, a federal judge in Washington temporarily blocked a similar effort by the Trump administration to shut down Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, another government-funded broadcaster that dates to the country's Cold War efforts to counter Soviet propaganda.Danielle Kaye contributed reporting. Source