Court Halts 500 Job Cuts at US Global Media

CBS News and other outlets reported on September 29 and 30, 2025, that a U.S. district judge in Washington, D.C., has temporarily suspended a Trump administration plan to eliminate 532 full-time government jobs at the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM). [1, 2, 8]
The ruling by U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth prevents the agency, which is the parent organization for Voice of America, from implementing the reduction in force that was scheduled to take effect on Tuesday. [1, 2, 6]
The job cuts were announced in late August by the agency's acting CEO, Kari Lake. [1, 6] Judge Lamberth accused the administration of showing "concerning disrespect" for the court and noted that the agency initiated the job cuts shortly after government lawyers had described them as only a possibility. [2]
The decision provides immediate protection for the 532 targeted employee positions, halting a major workforce change at the agency responsible for U.S.-funded international broadcasting. [1, 6]
As a result of the temporary order, the USAGM is barred from proceeding with the job eliminations while the judge considers a motion to block the cuts permanently. [1, 2]