The case involves Voice of America Director Michael Abramowitz and journalist Patsy Widakuswara challenging actions by Kari Lake, who serves as Senior Advisor to the Acting CEO of the U.S. Agency for Global Media. The dispute centers on a March 2025 directive that placed certain federal employees on administrative leave, prompting litigation that resulted in district court orders requiring their return to work.
The three-judge panel found that appellants met the demanding standard for a stay pending appeal under the Supreme Court's decision in Nken v. Holder. The court specifically stayed the portion of the March 17, 2026 district court orders requiring that 'all employees placed on administrative leave pursuant to defendants' March 2025 directive shall return to work.' Circuit Judges Henderson, Wilkins, and Katsas issued the ruling in a per curiam order.
The appeals court consolidated four related cases and denied motions to dismiss certain appeals as moot, finding that the district court's subsequent vacatur of a March 23, 2026 compliance deadline did not invalidate the broader challenges. The court noted that appellants are challenging and seeking to stay 'broader aspects of the district court's orders' beyond just the compliance timeline.
The ruling represents a significant victory for the government in what appears to be a high-profile employment dispute involving federal media agencies. The court has established a briefing schedule for the substantive appeals and given appellants 14 days to respond to suggestions that some of the cases have been rendered moot.