The liberal DC Circuit Court of Appeals handed President Trump a massive win on Saturday after a district court judge ordered him to rehire staff from far-left Voice of America that will have impacts lasting beyond just this one case, according to a legal expert.
As The Gateway Pundit reported, a federal judge last month ordered the Trump Administration to rehire Voice of America (VOA) and other affiliate news services staff. The affiliate staff included Radio Free Asia and the Middle East Broadcasting Network.
In March, Trump placed employees and contractors for government-funded Voice of America on leave.
US District Judge Royce Lamberth, a Reagan appointee, said Voice of America is funded by Congress and Trump’s cuts to the agency are “a direct affront to the power of the legislative branch.”
He then granted a preliminary injunction.
Thanks to this ridiculous decision, Voice of America staffers were set to return to work next week, and the station was set to resume broadcasting. But then an unexpected setback occurred this afternoon.
The DC Court of Appeals entered a stay of Lamberth’s injunction and suspended the first-instance decision, blocking the order that allowed them to return to work.
Legal Professor Margot Cleveland analyzed the decision and explained in detail why this ruling will have widespread implications.
“The Court of Appeals decision is based on fundamental issue of “jurisdiction,” she explained. “This conclusion should have wide-spread ramifications because many of challenges to Trump Administration are about employment decisions which CONGRESS said are NOT for district courts to decide.”
4/ Court of Appeals decision is based on fundamental issue of “jurisdiction.” This conclusion should have wide-spread ramifications because many of challenges to Trump Administration are about employment decisions which CONGRESS said are NOT for district courts to decide. pic.twitter.com/zvm8capDCA
— Margot Cleveland (@ProfMJCleveland) May 3, 2025
Cleveland went on to add that Lamberth made another fundamental error, as the Court of Appeals pointed out: that the district court lacked jurisdiction to restore grants because Congress gave that authority to the Court of Claims. The Court of Appeals also stated how the SCOTUS decision compels that result, yet Lamberth ignored the SCOTUS.
7/ Court of Appeals also notes how SCOTUS decision compels that result…which it DOES and yet district court ignored SCOTUS. pic.twitter.com/w7rLDgmBU1
— Margot Cleveland (@ProfMJCleveland) May 3, 2025
The DC Circuit Court also noted that Voice of America was not being shuttered and that “with no bond, the harm to government is irreparable.” Moreover, the Court made clear that the Judiciary Branch, following the law, was not an option.
11/ Court of Appeals also notes Judiciary Branch must follow the law too! pic.twitter.com/TNqVZGDLlj
— Margot Cleveland (@ProfMJCleveland) May 3, 2025
Cleveland summed up her analysis of the massive decision by noting Trump achieved a big win that will apply to other cases brought against him for three key reasons: First, courts have no jurisdiction over firings; second, they have no jurisdiction over grant terminations; and third, judges can use creative ‘loopholes’ to get around Congress.
“In sum, this opinion is a HUGE win for Trump because it establishes 3 key principles that apply to many of the other cases being brought against Trump Administration: a) no jurisdiction over firings; b) no jurisdiction over grant terminations; c) you can’t get around Congress limiting district court jurisdiction by creative pleading of claims under other theories
13/ c) you can’t get around Congress limiting district court jurisdiction by creative pleading of claims under other theories; d) with no bond harm to government will outweigh other harm; e) public has interest in Article III obey Article I.
— Margot Cleveland (@ProfMJCleveland) May 3, 2025
Kari Lake, the Trump Administration Senior Advisor for US Agency for Global Media, celebrated the ruling while linking to Cleveland’s thread.
BIG WIN in our legal cases at USAGM & Voice of America. Huge victory for President Trump and Article II.
Turns out the District Court judge will not be able to manage the agency as he seemed to want to. https://t.co/mp9z0Zi6wo
— Kari Lake (@KariLake) May 3, 2025
Read the full article here