A federal judge delivered a significant setback to President Donald Trump’s administration on Tuesday by temporarily halting attempts to cut off funding to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). The international broadcaster, known for promoting democratic values and providing uncensored news in regions with restricted press freedoms, secured the legal victory after challenging the administration’s recent executive directive.
In a detailed 10-page order, U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth criticized the administration’s attempt to terminate funding, emphasizing that such actions could violate established law since funding decisions have historically been the purview of Congress, not the president, since 1973, reported CNN.
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“The Court concludes, in keeping with Congress’s longstanding determination, that the continued operation of RFE/RL is in the public interest,” Judge Lamberth asserted in his ruling. His judgment reinforced the importance of congressional oversight in decisions concerning appropriations.
Additionally, Lamberth firmly stated that the United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM) leadership “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.” This ruling significantly restricts the administration’s ability to enact swift funding cuts through executive orders without providing substantial justification.
The court’s order specifically restrained Kari Lake, special advisor to the federal parent agency overseeing the Voice of America, from executing President Trump’s directive to eliminate funding. Lake, who stands as the sole defendant in RFE/RL’s lawsuit, was ordered to “take no steps and impose no obligations relating to closing out the plaintiff’s grant.”
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Founded in Prague, Czech Republic, and operating nearly two dozen bureaus along with a corporate office in Washington, D.C., Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty has long positioned itself as a crucial player in international journalism. According to its mission statement, the broadcaster seeks to “promote democratic values by providing accurate, uncensored news and open debate in countries where a free press is threatened and disinformation is pervasive.”
This court ruling underscores the tension between executive authority and congressional powers, particularly regarding public funding and foreign policy institutions. The decision also highlights ongoing challenges faced by news organizations promoting democratic dialogue and transparency worldwide amidst political pressures and governmental interventions.
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