Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, a U.S.-funded news outlet created during the Cold War to reach people living under communism, is suing Kari Lake and the Trump administration over efforts to defund the organization. The lawsuit filed in a Washington D.C. federal court states that the station has not been paid a $7.5 million invoice and that the funding freeze undermines Congress’s purse strings. With both entities funded by government grants and around 1% coming from private donations, the lawsuit claims that urgent relief is needed to compel the agency to follow the law. If funding does not resume, the station will be forced to lay off employees who work to bring news coverage to 23 countries in Europe and Asia in 27 languages.
RFE/RL President and CEO Stephen Capus stated, “This is not the time to cede terrain to the propaganda and censorship of America’s adversaries,” emphasizing the importance of maintaining news coverage in the face of adversity. The lawsuit names the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), Victor Morales, the acting USAGM CEO, and Kari Lake as defendants, with the legal action coming shortly after President Trump signed an executive order aimed at eliminating USAGM. Leaders in Europe have raised concerns about the funding cuts made by the Trump administration, with Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky urging EU ministers to consider ways to allow the Prague-based service to continue. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas highlighted Radio Free Europe as a “beacon of democracy” and expressed sadness at the decision to cut its funding.
Radio Free Europe began broadcasting in 1950 to countries behind the Iron Curtain such as Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria, while Radio Liberty started broadcasting to the Soviet Union in 1953. These entities provided alternative news sources to media controlled by the Soviet Union and other communist governments. The news outlet has been instrumental in providing accurate information to populations living in countries under authoritarian regimes, helping to promote democratic values and freedom of the press. The lawsuit filed against the Trump administration and USAGM seeks to uphold the law and ensure that funding is provided as directed by appropriations laws and the International Broadcasting Act.
The lawsuit highlights the essential role that Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty plays in providing news coverage to countries in Europe and Asia, particularly in regions where access to unbiased information may be limited. As a beacon of democracy, the news outlet has faced challenges in securing funding, with the Trump administration’s efforts to defund the organization raising concerns among European leaders about the future of Radio Free Europe. The lawsuit aims to compel the agency to follow the law and ensure that funding is provided to support the important work of the news outlet.
As Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty faces threats to its funding and operations, the legal action taken against the Trump administration and USAGM represents a stand to protect the organization’s mission and uphold the principles of press freedom and democracy. The lawsuit serves as a reminder of the critical role that independent media outlets play in providing accurate information and holding governments accountable. With European leaders expressing support for Radio Free Europe and concerns about the impact of funding cuts, the lawsuit seeks to ensure that the organization can continue its vital work in providing news coverage to countries where access to unbiased information is crucial.
In a time when the spread of misinformation and propaganda poses a significant threat to democratic values, the lawsuit filed by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty underscores the importance of maintaining independent news sources that can provide accurate and reliable information to populations in countries under authoritarian rule. The legal action taken against the Trump administration and USAGM aims to protect the organization’s ability to continue providing news coverage to countries in Europe and Asia, highlighting the need for support from both government agencies and private donors to sustain the essential work of Radio Free Europe in promoting democratic values and freedom of the press.
