Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty fights for survival as US funds cut
The US-funded foreign broadcaster Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) has filed a lawsuit against its parent agency amid a fight over funding cuts that threaten its survival.
The lawsuit was submitted in a federal court in Washington, a spokesman for the Prague-based broadcaster said on Wednesday.
RFE/RL argues that the withholding of funds by the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM) is unlawful because the money was expressly allocated by the US Congress.
The radio network accused its parent agency of violating the US Constitution and is seeking an injunction to block the funding freeze.
The lawsuit also targets the new USAGM leadership appointed by President Donald Trump.
"This is not the time to cede terrain to the propaganda and censorship of America's adversaries," Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty President and chief executive Stephen Capus said in a statement.
'We believe the law is on our side and the celebration of our demise by despots around the world is premature.'
RFE/RL produces television and radio programmes in Russian, Ukrainian, Belarusian and many other languages, distributing content online as well.
The broadcaster has long been a thorn in the side of the Russian leadership. In February 2024, Moscow designated RFE/RL an 'undesirable organization.'
It reaches nearly 50 million people across 23 countries every week with unbiased news, according to the broadcaster.
A Czech-led initiative, which Germany has also joined, is now exploring European funding options to help prevent the station from going silent.
The financial crisis was triggered by a decree from Trump ordering significant budget cuts at USAGM, which oversees all US government-funded foreign media outlets not under military control.
RFE/RL later announced that USAGM had officially terminated their existing funding agreement.
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