Federal Judge Temporarily Blocks Funding Cut to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
A legal battle has emerged over the future of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) as a federal judge has issued a temporary injunction against the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) and Kari Lake, a senior adviser to former President Trump. The injunction halts efforts to eliminate federal funding for the international network.
RFE/RL is actively pursuing a permanent reversal of the decision in a court in Washington, D.C., after Lake ordered the cessation of all funding and operations despite Congress allocating $142 million to the network for the current fiscal year. This move by the White House is part of a broader directive for USAGM to streamline its operations.
USAGM, which oversees the Voice of America and distributes federal funds to international broadcasters, intended to cut off support for RFE/RL, a move the network claims is unconstitutional. A recent court ruling by U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth, appointed by Reagan, supported this view, arguing that the agency’s actions lacked sufficient explanation.
“The leadership of USAGM cannot, with one sentence of reasoning offering virtually no explanation, force RFE/RL to shut down — even if the President has told them to do so,” Judge Lamberth stated, emphasizing the public interest in maintaining RFE/RL’s operations.
Founded during the Cold War in 1950, RFE/RL delivers news in 27 languages across 23 countries, reaching 47 million people weekly. The network’s journalists face significant risks, often targeted by authoritarian regimes like those in Iran and Russia, for their mission to offer balanced reporting in regions with limited press freedom.
Steve Capus, CEO of RFE/RL, welcomed the court’s decision. “This ruling further sends a strong message to our journalists around the world: Their mission as designed by Congress is a worthy and valuable one and should continue,” Capus expressed in a statement released to the press.
Despite ongoing litigation, the network has managed to continue its work, relying on its financial reserves. Lake and USAGM have not provided comments on the ruling or the broader litigation efforts.
In recent remarks, Lake defended the administration’s stance on the funding cuts, stating on Steve Bannon’s podcast, “The president is in total control of the executive branch. He’s exerting his power, and they don’t like it. We are going to fight these lawsuits.”
Court Challenges Against White House’s Reduction Efforts
The attempt to reduce USAGM’s operations aligns with Trump’s administrative goals to cut government spending and discredit traditional media. This has led to numerous legal challenges. Lamberth’s ruling offers temporary relief for RFE/RL and may indicate future judicial decisions, as similar actions have been taken against Radio Free Asia and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks.
Amidst these legal proceedings, six Voice of America journalists and other associated entities have filed lawsuits in Manhattan to restore staff positions. The agency has already placed its full-time staff on indefinite paid leave and terminated all contractors.
In a recent hearing, the court ordered USAGM to release $7.5 million to RFE/RL, covering overdue payments. Judge Lamberth questioned the Justice Department’s stance, asking why Congress would appropriate funds if they are not to be used as intended.
Lamberth’s ruling suggested that RFE/RL likely has a strong case for its broader arguments, criticizing USAGM’s lack of a detailed explanation for terminating the funding. The judge plans to make a prompt decision regarding the full restoration of funds to the network.
This article was originally written by www.npr.org
