WASHINGTON, D.C. — A federal appeals court on Tuesday upheld an injunction barring the U.S. Agency for Global Media from removing Voice of America Director Michael Abramowitz without majority approval from the International Broadcasting Advisory Board.
The unanimous November 10 ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit found that the agency’s August 2025 attempt to remove Abramowitz without that approval violated federal law. The panel rejected the government’s arguments that the case belonged in the federal personnel system and that the board’s role violated the Constitution.
Writing for the panel, Judge Cornelia Pillard explained that Congress gave the board a role in hiring and removing network heads to safeguard editorial independence. The court said the president retains indirect oversight because he can remove board members. Six of the board’s seven seats remain vacant, according to the opinion.
The ruling keeps the removal injunction in place. It does not order Abramowitz back to active duty, recall other employees or restore broadcasts. Abramowitz remains on administrative leave and said he wants to resume his duties, The Desk reported. It was not immediately clear when he might return or whether the government would seek further review.