US judicial body imposes a preliminary prohibition on denying funding for RCE/RS

U.S. District Court Grants Temporary Restraining Order to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL)

In a significant development, the U.S. District Court in Washington D.C. has granted a temporary restraining order to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) against the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM). The court order requires USAGM to refrain from any actions that could lead to the closure of RFE/RL pending a full hearing.

Judge Royce C. Lambert issued a 10-page ruling, stating that implementing the decision to terminate RFE/RL's grant agreement would cause "irreparable harm" to RFE/RL. The judge's ruling prevents USAGM from withholding funds allocated by Congress for RFE/RL's operations beyond the period of March 14.

The grant agreement provides RFE/RL with funds allocated by Congress for its operations. In the near future, RFE/RL will receive $7.46 million, covering operations from March 1 to 14. This amount is a portion of the funds allocated by Congress to RFE/RL, with the agency agreeing to provide more funds in the coming weeks.

RFE/RL, an independent media corporation that has existed since 1953 and is financed through funds allocated by the U.S. Congress through the agency for global media, will seek a ruling on its request for approximately $77 million in funds allocated by Congress for its operations for the current fiscal year, ending September 2025.

The court ruling also prevents USAGM from proceeding with the decision announced on March 15 by its chief advisor, Kara Bue, to terminate RFE/RL's grant agreement. This decision was allegedly based on claims of inefficient spending of taxpayer money according to the Trump administration.

The President of the United States who on March 18, 20XX, ordered the reduction of activities of seven federal agencies, including USAGM which oversees RFE/RL, was Donald Trump. A statement on the USAGM website attributed the decisions to Karen Leigh, explaining them as inefficient spending of taxpayer money.

Steven Korn, President and CEO of RFE/RL, expressed appreciation for the court's decision and stated that RFE/RL looks forward to advancing its position regarding the unconstitutionality of USAGM's refusal to provide funds. RFE/RL filed a lawsuit against USAGM, Karen Leigh, and Victor Morales to block their attempt to terminate the grant approved by the U.S. Congress.

The hearing is expected to take place in the coming weeks. This news comes as a relief to RFE/RL, which continues to provide vital news and information to millions of people in countries where a free press is either non-existent or under threat.