Media: Radio Free Europe takes legal action against Trump over funding termination

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration in an attempt to prevent the termination of all federal funding for the US-backed broadcaster.

In the federal lawsuit, RFE/RL argues that the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM) is in violation of both the US Constitution and federal laws by withholding funds that Congress specifically allocated to the broadcaster, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media. 

USAGM is responsible for disbursing federal funds to US-backed international media organisations, including RFE/RL, which serve countries lacking free and independent press outlets. “This is not the time to cede terrain to the propaganda and censorship of America’s adversaries,” said Stephen Capus, President and CEO of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, in a statement. “We believe the law is on our side and that the celebration of our demise by despots around the world is premature.” RFE/RL serves 47 million people every week, providing news and information in 27 languages across 23 countries, including Afghanistan, Hungary, Iran, Pakistan, Russia, and Ukraine.

Launched in 1950, RFE/RL is part of a broader US initiative to promote American ideals and democracy through independent news reporting, particularly in regions under authoritarian control. The lawsuit targets the US Agency for Global Media as well as two of its officials: Senior Advisor Kari Lake and Acting Chief Executive Victor Morales. Neither USAGM nor the officials have responded to NPR’s requests for comment. David Kligerman, the former general counsel for USAGM, emphasised that RFE/RL had no choice but to take legal action.

“They have no other option,” Kligerman said. “None of the entities would want to enter litigation against the government. They receive their funds from the government. The relationship that the statute envisions is one of cooperation and coordination.” The legal dispute comes after the Trump administration issued an executive order limiting USAGM’s activities to those deemed “statutorily required” by law, following the passage of a stopgap spending bill by Congress, which continued funding for USAGM and the networks it supports. RFE/RL’s lawsuit challenges USAGM’s refusal to release the allocated funds, arguing that Congress holds exclusive authority over federal spending and that distributing the funds is not optional.

“This case challenges a federal agency’s refusal to abide by Congress’ power of the purse,” the lawsuit states, adding that the decision to provide funds is a legal requirement. The legal action also comes after a federal judge ruled that the Trump administration likely violated the Constitution when it effectively shuttered the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

Over the weekend, Kari Lake took action to shut down other federally owned networks, including Voice of America and Radio/TV Marti. She also revoked contracts that distributed funds to RFE/RL and other networks, such as Radio Free Asia and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks. Additionally, she terminated the Open Technology Fund contract, which supported the development of secure messaging technologies like Signal. Lake, who has expressed her desire to reform these networks, has made several public statements about the situation. 

By Naila Huseynova