WASHINGTON — A federal appeals court ruled Tuesday that the Trump administration broke the law when it removed Voice of America director Michael Abramowitz without approval from the broadcaster’s independent oversight board.
The unanimous ruling leaves in place an Aug. 28, 2025, injunction prohibiting officials from removing Abramowitz without majority approval from the International Broadcasting Advisory Board.
Board Approval Required
The administration argued that Congress had unconstitutionally restricted presidential authority. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit rejected that argument and upheld the removal procedure.
The panel also rejected the government’s position that Abramowitz had to pursue his case through the federal personnel appeals system rather than district court.
Judge Cornelia Pillard wrote the Nov. 10 opinion. Chief Judge Sri Srinivasan and Judge Florence Pan joined her.
Officials notified Abramowitz in July 2025 that he would be reassigned to a chief management officer position in Greenville, North Carolina. He declined. An Aug. 1 letter then informed him of their decision to remove him.
By then, the oversight board lacked a quorum. President Donald Trump had fired six of its seven members in January 2025, and those seats remained vacant.
The injunction bars removal without board approval. It does not order Abramowitz’s immediate return from administrative leave.
Abramowitz Seeks Return to Work
Abramowitz welcomed the decision in a Nov. 10 message to colleagues, reproduced by SaveVOA.
“I am gratified by this result,” he wrote.
He said his lawyers were studying the ruling to determine their next steps. He urged the administration to allow him to resume his duties and bring back VOA employees and programming.
Abramowitz also welcomed indications that Trump’s nominee to lead the U.S. Agency for Global Media supported restoring more staff. He called on the government to follow the laws governing VOA and use its appropriated funding to rebuild operations.