Appeals court rules VOA director was illegally fired by former chief Kari Lake

Michael Abramowitz, the director of Voice of America, was illegally fired from his position by the agency’s former head Kari Lake, an appeals court ruled Tuesday.

Abramowitz was fired by Lake in August 2025 after refusing an ultimatum: move to a lower-level position in North Carolina or be fired. Abramowitz refused and was fired, calling Lake’s decision “illegal.”