Trump administration restores funding for Radio Free Europe after court order

On March 27, the Trump administration restored funding for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, a federally financed news organization born out of American efforts to counter Soviet propaganda during the Cold War.

The decision to again support the news group, known as RFE/RL, came two days after a federal judge in Washington temporarily blocked President Trump’s push to close it down, saying Mr. Trump cannot unilaterally dismantle the news organization established by Congress, Caliber.Az reports, citing American media.

The Trump administration still reserved the right to terminate the RFE/RL’s financing “at a later date” if it “were to determine that such termination was appropriate,” according to the administration’s letter to RFE/RL that was submitted to the court.

It is unclear whether the lawsuit will end, as the administration claims. The news outlet had asked the court to declare the March 15 letter unlawful, to bar Trump officials from rescinding funding that Congress appropriated and to order the government to cover RFE/RL’s legal fees.

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty was founded in the 1950s as an American intelligence operation covertly financed through the Central Intelligence Agency. The broadcaster sought to foment anti-communist dissent in Eastern Europe and Russia.

​On March 14, 2025, the Trump administration initiated funding cuts to several U.S.-funded media outlets, including Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), as part of broader efforts to reduce government spending. This decision led RFE/RL to file a lawsuit against the administration, arguing that the funding had been appropriated by Congress specifically for their operations. ​

On March 15, the administration terminated all grants for RFE/RL in a one-page letter, citing Mr. Trump’s executive order a day earlier aimed at eliminating RFE/RL’s parent agency, the U.S. Agency for Global Media.

Following legal action and a temporary restraining order issued by a U.S. District Court judge, the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) rescinded its order to terminate RFE/RL's grant funding. This reversal allows RFE/RL to continue its operations in line with congressional intent. ​

The funding cuts have been met with criticism from lawmakers and rights advocates, who argue that such actions undermine U.S. soft power, especially in countering adversaries like China and Russia. The Czech government, where RFE/RL is headquartered, has expressed support for the broadcaster and is collaborating with other European Union countries to explore alternative funding options.

By Khagan Isayev