Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty is suing the Trump administration, Kari Lake, the U.S. Agency for Global Media and USAGM acting CEO Victor Morales over moves to terminate the news organization’s federal funding.
The big picture: The lawsuit that was filed Tuesday says “Congress has appropriated funds specifically for RFE/RL” and “expressly directed” the USAGM to make these available to the outlet in the form of annual grants.
- “That agency is now refusing to disburse the appropriated funds on the basis that it is ending its ‘non-statutory’ functions,” but funding Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty “is a statutory function” of the agency, argues the suit that was filed in federal court in Washington, D.C.
- “Whether to disburse funds as directed by appropriations laws, and whether to make those funds available through grants as directed by the International Broadcasting Act, is not an optional choice for the agency to make. It is the law. Urgent relief is needed to compel the agency to follow the law.”
Driving the news: The Trump administration terminated funding over the weekend for broadcasters including RFE/RL, Radio Free Asia and Middle East Broadcasting Networks, and ordered nearly all 1,300 employees of Voice of America to be placed on leave — sparking outrage from press freedom groups.
- Lake canceled the 15-year lease of USAGM, an independent agency that was formerly known as the Broadcasting Board of Governors, which she had been appointed senior adviser to, calling it “obscenely expensive.”
- The cuts are part of Elon Musk’s DOGE-driven federal funding overhaul, which has resulted in multiple lawsuits challenging the actions.
What they’re saying: “This is not the time to cede terrain to the propaganda and censorship of America’s adversaries,” said Stephen Capus, president and CEO of RFE/RL.
- “We believe the law is on our side and that the celebration of our demise by despots around the world is premature,” added Capus, in an apparent reference to Chinese state media welcoming the Trump administration’s funding decision.
- Representatives for USAGM did not immediately respond to Axios’ request for comment in the evening.
Background: Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty were founded during the Cold War and initially covertly funded via the CIA, with the former targeting Soviet satellite states and the latter aimed at the Soviet Union on a mission to provide listeners with a link to the West.
- They later merged and the outlet’s mission is “to promote democratic values by providing accurate, uncensored news and open debate in countries where a free press is threatened and disinformation is pervasive. RFE/RL reports the facts, undaunted by pressure,” per a post on its website.
- Editor’s note: This article has been updated with comment from Stephen Capus, president and CEO of RFE/RL, and with more context.