Judge Directs Trump Administration to Allocate $12 Million to Radio Free Europe
The judge indicated that the actions taken by the administration to revoke the grants agreement with Radio Free Europe ‘endanger the very survival’ of the news organization.
A federal judge ruled on April 29 that the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) is required to allocate the funding set aside by Congress for the nonprofit news entity Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
Lamberth stated that the plaintiff had demonstrated it would suffer irreparable damage without a restraining order, emphasizing that USAGM’s move to terminate the grants agreement “endangers the very survival” of the organization.
The judge also claimed that Radio Free Europe is likely to succeed on the merits of its assertion that USAGM violated the Administrative Procedure Act by ending the grants agreement.
Lamberth remarked that the Trump administration must seek congressional approval to enact such changes, asserting that it “lacks the constitutional authority to refuse” to allocate funds appropriated by Congress.
“Ultimately, it is Congress that enacts the laws in this country. In this instance, it was Congress who determined that the funds in question should be allocated to RFE/RL,” Lamberth commented, referencing the acronym for Radio Free Europe.
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The judge further concluded that USAGM’s decision to alter the grant agreement after the fiscal year commenced was “arbitrary and capricious.”
The court order stated that USAGM presented “a radically different grant agreement” in mid-April, allowing insufficient time for meaningful discussions as Radio Free Europe faced a funding shortfall.
“For our nation to prosper for another 250 years, every co-equal branch of government must courageously exercise the authority delegated to it by our Founders,” Lamberth commented.
The reductions impact the organizations and agencies under its jurisdiction, including Voice of America (VOA); the Office of Cuba Broadcasting; Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, as well as other entities such as Radio Free Asia, and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks.
The organization filed a lawsuit against USAGM on March 18 and subsequently requested a temporary restraining order to prevent the cancellation of funding.
Stephen Capus, president and CEO of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, welcomed the ruling and expressed hope for swift receipt of the funding. Capus mentioned that the organization had to lay off personnel and reduce some programming due to the funding cuts.
The Epoch Times reached out to USAGM for comments but did not receive a response before publication.
Zachary Stieber contributed to this report.
