Judge Orders Trump to Restore Radio Free Europe $12M Funding/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to reinstate $12 million in funding for Radio Free Europe. The ruling emphasizes the constitutional limits of executive power amid a broader attempt to defund U.S.-backed media. Without funding, the 75-year-old outlet risked shutting down operations worldwide.
Radio Free Europe Ruling: Quick Looks
- $12 million in funding must be restored immediately
- Judge Royce Lamberth ruled against Trump administration cuts
- Decision reaffirms Congress’ authority in government spending
- Radio Free Europe serves 23 countries in 27 languages
- Without funds, it faced near-total shutdown by June
- Administration previously cut staff and missed lease payments
- Ruling follows similar injunction protecting Voice of America
- Lamberth: “Co-equal branches must assert constitutional roles”
Judge Orders Trump to Restore Radio Free Europe $12M Funding
Deep Look
Judge Orders Trump Administration to Restore $12 Million in Radio Free Europe Funding
WASHINGTON — In a rebuke of executive overreach, a federal judge on Tuesday ordered the Trump administration to restore $12 million in funding for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), halting what would have been the organization’s first-ever shutdown in its 75-year history.
U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth granted a temporary restraining order requiring the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) to release the April 2025 funds allocated to RFE/RL. The decision stems from a lawsuit challenging the administration’s refusal to distribute funds already approved by Congress.
Lamberth’s ruling also served as a constitutional reminder, emphasizing the judiciary’s responsibility to check executive action and preserve the separation of powers outlined in the Constitution.
“If our nation is to thrive for another 250 years, each co-equal branch of government must be willing to courageously exert the authority entrusted to it by our Founders,” Lamberth wrote.
Checks, Balances, and Broadcasts
The judge noted that while the president can propose budgets and veto bills, he cannot unilaterally revoke funds already authorized by Congress and signed into law. In March, President Donald Trump signed a continuing resolution that included funding for U.S.-backed media outlets — but his administration then moved to withhold that money from RFE/RL.
The impact of the funding freeze was swift and severe: contracts with freelance journalists were terminated, rent went unpaid, and 122 employees were furloughed. Plaintiffs in the case warned that without immediate relief, core live broadcasting operations would halt by June.
RFE/RL broadcasts in 27 languages across 23 countries — including Russia, Iran, and Afghanistan — and plays a critical role in delivering independent journalism in regions with restricted press freedom.
Attorneys for the Trump administration argued that the dispute should be resolved in the Court of Federal Claims, characterizing it as a contractual disagreement. But Lamberth rejected that view, stating that the issue lies squarely in the realm of constitutional law and congressional authority.
Broader Pattern of Media Cuts
The ruling is the latest legal blow to the administration’s efforts to defund U.S. pro-democracy broadcasters. Last week, the same judge blocked attempts to dismantle Voice of America, another media outlet under USAGM, citing illegal executive actions.
The Trump administration’s push to shrink or shut down taxpayer-funded international media — which includes Radio Free Asia and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks — has sparked criticism both domestically and abroad, where the outlets are viewed as vital tools in the U.S. soft power arsenal.
Trump allies argue the media entities have strayed from their missions and require reform. But critics view the cuts as politically motivated, undermining press freedom and democratic messaging in hostile environments.
From Cold War to Constitutional War
RFE/RL was founded in the aftermath of World War II to counter Soviet propaganda during the Cold War. Though it operates under the U.S. government, the organization has long maintained editorial independence — a distinction the courts now appear eager to protect.
In his ruling, Judge Lamberth — a Reagan appointee — dismissed suggestions that the court was overreaching into executive powers. Instead, he reaffirmed the judiciary’s role in upholding the rule of law.
“This is not about partisanship,” Lamberth wrote. “It is about constitutional duty.”
As the lawsuit moves forward, RFE/RL can resume operations — at least temporarily — thanks to Tuesday’s ruling. Whether its long-term future is secure, however, may depend on ongoing legal battles and a volatile political climate in Washington.
You must Register or Login to post a comment.