Why did the US appellate court rule against VOA staff returning to work?

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US Appellate Court Rules Against Voice of America Staff Return

A United States appellate court has ruled against the return of Voice of America (VOA) staff to their positions, casting uncertainty over the broadcaster's future operations following its shutdown by President Donald Trump. The decision stems from a legal challenge regarding the authority over personnel actions within the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees VOA.
Jurisdictional Dispute Over Personnel Actions

The core of the appellate court's ruling, as articulated by Trump-appointed judges Neomi Rao and Gregory Katsas, centred on the assertion that the lower court likely lacked the necessary subject-matter jurisdiction to adjudicate USAGM's personnel decisions. This legal technicality formed the basis for overturning previous indications that VOA staff might soon resume their duties.
Dissenting Opinion and Previous Indicators of Return

While two judges supported the ruling against VOA staff returning, a third judge, Cornelia Pillard, who was appointed by former president Barack Obama, dissented from the majority opinion. This dissent occurred despite prior signals suggesting a resumption of operations, including an email from a Justice Department attorney indicating a "phased return" for VOA employees and the unblocking of work email accounts for two staff members.
USAGM Leadership's Reaction and Trump's Concerns

Kari Lake, appointed by President Trump to oversee USAGM, publicly celebrated the appellate court's decision, characterizing it as a significant victory for President Trump and Article II of the Constitution. President Trump himself had previously expressed dissatisfaction with VOA, questioning why the outlet was not promoting his administration's perspective and objecting to the editorial independence maintained by its "firewall."

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Why did the US appellate court rule against VOA staff returning to work?

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