US judge blocks Trump's shutdown of government-funded news broadcasts

Dietrich Knauth - Reuters - 23:56
A federal judge ordered the Trump administration on Tuesday to halt efforts to shut down Voice of America, Radio Free Asia and Middle East Broadcasting Networks, whose news broadcasts are funded by the government to export U.S. values to the world.
  • Judge ordered Trump administration to return employees to work
  • Congress mandated the broadcasts that were halted last month
NEW YORK, April 22 (Reuters) - A federal judge ordered the Trump administration on Tuesday to halt efforts to shut down Voice of America, Radio Free Asia and Middle East Broadcasting Networks, whose news broadcasts are funded by the government to export U.S. values to the world.
U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth, who is overseeing six lawsuits from employees and contractors affected by the shutdown of U.S. Agency for Global Media, ordered the administration to "take all necessary steps" to restore employees and contractors to their positions and resume radio, television and online news broadcasts.

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USAGM placed over 1,000 employees on leave and told 600 contractors they would be terminated after the agency abruptly shut down the broadcasts in March.
The ruling was a "significant victory for press freedom," said Andrew Celli, an attorney representing VOA employees in the lawsuits.
USAGM did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
VOA was founded to com...
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