The Trump administration will eliminate more than 500 positions at Voice of America (VOA) and its parent agency, acting CEO Kari Lake announced Friday.
The announcement comes just one day after a federal judge blocked Lake’s effort to remove VOA Director Michael Abramowitz.
Judge Blocks Abramowitz Firing
On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth, a Reagan appointee, ruled that firing Abramowitz without approval from the International Broadcasting Advisory Board would be “plainly contrary to law.”
Lamberth gave the administration until September 15 to comply with his order to restore VOA operations, warning that this was the agency’s “one final opportunity, short of a contempt trial.”
Lake Defends Job Cuts
Lake said the reduction in force is being conducted at President Trump’s direction.
“We are conducting this at the President’s direction to help reduce the federal bureaucracy, improve agency service and save the American people more of their hard-earned money,” Lake said.
She added that she looks forward to “taking additional steps in the coming months to improve the functioning of a very broken agency and make sure America’s voice is heard