A mere day following the decision of U.S. Senior District Court Judge Royce C. Lamberth, who ruled against removing Voice of America Director Michael Abramowitz, the Acting Chief Executive of the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), Kari Lake, made a significant announcement on X. She revealed a large-scale Reduction of Force (RIF), resulting in the elimination of 532 positions within USAGM. Lake’s declaration signifies a notable disregard for the U.S. District Court’s authority to become involved in the operations of the Executive branch.
Judge Lambert ruled against the termination of Abramowitz on Thursday, as reported by NPR, after making a broad pronouncement Monday that Lake’s ongoing efforts to right-size the agency within its statutory limits are “verging on contempt of court.” The judge openly dismissed constitutional arguments that he is overstepping the judicial branch’s authority, writing in part:
“Defendants raise just one defense as to why the Court should decline to issue an injunction: they call upon the Court to declare that [law] violates the separation of powers by unduly interfering with the President’s authority to remove inferior officers…. Because Supreme Court precedent on the president’s removal power directly contradicts their position, the Court cannot do so.”
Lake released an announcement of the RIF on Friday and posted it to X:
ANNOUNCEMENT—
U.S. Agency for Global Media Eliminates 532 Government Positions
Washington, D.C. – Tonight, the U.S. Agency for Global Media initiated what is known as a reduction in force, or RIF, of a large number of its full-time federal employees. We are conducting this RIF at… pic.twitter.com/LWeO9w0RNQ
— Kari Lake (@KariLake) August 30, 2025
Lake’s tweet continues:
Tonight, the U.S. Agency for Global Media initiated what is known as a reduction in force, or RIF, of a large number of its full-time federal employees. We are conducting this RIF 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. USAGM will continue to fulfill its statutory mission after this RIF— and will likely improve its ability to function and provide the truth to people across the world who live under murderous Communist governments and other tyrannical regimes. I look 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 abroad where it matters most.
Lake responded to a request for comment from RedState Saturday, blasting Judge Lambert’s interference in Executive Branch operations, explaining, “The D.C. District Court getting involved in Executive Branch personnel issues is unconstitutional. It’s happening with many agencies as President Trump tries to make personnel changes to get the right people in the right jobs.”
Addressing the removal of Abramowitz in particular, she wrote, “In my agency, we did not fire Mr. Abramowitz; we reassigned him to an incredible position, and he chose not to take that reassignment.”
“We fully intend to appeal this absurd ruling,” she added.
“Elections have consequences, and President Trump runs the Executive Branch. I have confidence that the Constitution will eventually be enforced, even if not by Judge Lamberth and other radical district judges,” Lake said.
Solicitor General of the United States D. John Sauer announced in a letter reported by AZ Free News that under the authority of Article II § 2 Clause 2, the restrictions imposed on personnel decisions at USAGM by 22 U.S.C. 6205(e)(l) are unconstitutional, and the DOJ is prepared to defend the removal of Abramowitz.
Sauer explained:
“Under Article II, inferior executive officers must be removable at will by the President or by a department head acting on the President’s behalf. See Seila Law LLC v. CFPB, 591 U.S. 197, 215 (2020).
“The Supreme Court has recognized only one narrow exception to that ‘general rule.’ Ibid. That exception extends, at most, to certain domestic inferior officers ‘with limited duties and no policymaking or administrative authority.’ Id. at 218. The head of Voice of America falls outside that exception. Among other things, he exercises significant policymaking or administrative authority in supervising Voice of America, and Voice of America’s activities implicate the President’s authority to manage foreign affairs.”
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