A federal judge orders the Trump administration to restore all jobs and funding to Voice of America

A federal judge has ordered Donald Trump's administration to "restore" all jobs and funding for the Voice of America and other US-backed media outlets, ruling that efforts to "dismantle" it violate the law and the Constitution.

Over 1,300 Voice of America employees, including about 1,000 journalists, were placed on leave following President Donald Trump's order.

The White House has accused the broadcaster of being "anti-Trump" and "radical."

Voice of America, still primarily a radio service, was created during World War II to counter Nazi propaganda and has become a major global media broadcaster.

The decision noted that due to the cuts, "Voice of America is not reporting the news for the first time in its 80-year existence."

Judge Royce Lamberth said the administration acted "without regard to the harm caused to employees, contractors, journalists and media consumers around the world."

He ordered the administration to take steps to return employees and contractors to the jobs they had before the executive order.

The judge found that the administration also violated the International Broadcasting Act and Congress's power to appropriate funding.

"My colleagues and I are grateful for this decision. But we know that this is only a small step forward, as the government will likely appeal," said Patsy Widakuswara, the chief of the Voice of America White House bureau.

Trump has long criticized the Voice of America as part of his broader attacks on the media, often accusing the mainstream media of bias. /Telegraph/