Federal Judge Orders Restoring Funding for US Outlet
(MENAFN) A US federal judge has instructed the administration of President Donald Trump to reinstate funding for the state-operated Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL).
The ruling declared that the decision to halt the financial support was "unprecedented" and lacked any substantial justification.
RFE/RL played a crucial role in promoting Western ideals within the Soviet bloc during the Cold War, initially receiving backing from the CIA.
Today, the organization is primarily funded through the US Congress.
The Trump administration had attempted to reduce funding for RFE/RL along with other state-affiliated media outlets.
It criticized the United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM)—the agency responsible for overseeing such organizations—calling it “not salvageable” and accusing it of “obscene overspending.”
Moreover, the administration claimed that the agency was infiltrated with “spies and terrorist sympathizers.”
As a result, USAGM effectively halted the funding for RFE/RL and declined to renew the outlet's contract after its previous one expired in March.
This decision led to layoffs and a reduction in programming.
However, the European Union stepped in to cover part of the financial shortfall.
On Friday, Judge Royce C. Lamberth, of the US District Court for the District of Columbia, ruled that the Trump administration did not possess the legal authority to block over $70 million in funding that had been approved by Congress.
He emphasized that the administration had failed to provide a clear rationale for its actions.
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