Judge blocks Trump admin, Kari Lake from dismantling US-funded radio network

A federal judge in Washington, D.C., has issued a temporary restraining order blocking the shutdown of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), a U.S.-funded radio network. U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth, appointed by former President Ronald Reagan, granted the restraining order, finding that Kari Lake, who was appointed to oversee the U.S. Agency for Global Media, likely violated federal law in moving to slash RFE/RL’s funding as part of President Donald Trump’s agenda to eliminate government waste.

RFE/RL, a non-profit news organization founded in the 1950s by the Central Intelligence Agency during the Cold War, was later funded by Congress in the 1970s to promote democracy globally. The organization has been a key player in providing trustworthy news to audiences affected by communist propaganda.

The Trump administration’s executive order aimed at dismantling U.S.-funded media organizations, including RFE/RL, was met with legal challenges. The administration froze nearly $7.5 million in funding already appropriated by Congress, leading RFE/RL to file a lawsuit in federal court. The Justice Department assured that the disbursement of funds was underway, but RFE/RL argued that the temporary fix would not prevent widespread layoffs and potential closure by April if funding did not continue.

In response to the lawsuit, Judge Lamberth emphasized the importance of RFE/RL’s role in providing reliable news and promoting media freedom globally. He concluded that the continued operation of RFE/RL was in the public interest, aligning with Congress’s longstanding determination.

Separately, Voice of America reporters, along with Reporters Without Borders and several unions, filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in New York against the U.S. Agency for Global Media and Kari Lake over efforts to shut down their operations.

The legal battles surrounding the funding and operation of U.S.-funded media organizations underscore the importance of upholding press freedom and providing trustworthy news to audiences worldwide. The outcome of these legal challenges will have significant implications for the future of RFE/RL and other media outlets under the U.S. Agency for Global Media.

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