Latest news with #StephenCapus
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
USAGM withdraws termination of RFE/RL grant, funding back in effect
The U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) has reversed its decision to terminate grant funding for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) for the fiscal year 2025, RFE/RL reported on March 27. The move follows a U.S. District Court ruling that granted RFE/RL a temporary restraining order, blocking what the court deemed an unlawful attempt by USAGM to cut congressionally appropriated funds. The funding for RFE/RL was terminated earlier this month after U.S. President Donald Trump ordered USAGM, the government agency overseeing RFE/RL, Radio Free Asia, and Voice of America, to be dismantled. RFE/RL's lawsuit argues that USAGM's actions violate federal law and seeks access to the full $77 million in funding approved by Congress. RFE/RL President Stephen Capus called the reversal an encouraging step but stressed the need for formal confirmation and dialogue with USAGM leadership to secure long-term stability. He also emphasized the importance of keeping RFE/RL operational, especially during rising threats and censorship implementation around the world. 'This is not the time for RFE/RL to go silent,' Capus said. RFE/RL was founded early in the Cold War to counter Soviet propaganda in Eastern Bloc countries. It has since continued providing coverage of Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, and countries in Central Asia, the Balkans, the Caucasus, and elsewhere. Read also: 'Russia managed to influence some in White House,' Zelensky tells Time magazine We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Axios
28-03-2025
- Business
- Axios
USAGM withdraws termination of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty grant
In a stunning reversal, U.S. Agency for Global Media special adviser Kari Lake on Wednesday evening withdrew an order to terminate the 2025 funding grant for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, one of the five broadcast agencies that sits under USAGM. Why it matters: It's an important victory for RFE/RL, which would have otherwise been forced to shutter without its funding. What they're saying:"This is an encouraging sign that RFE/RL's operations will be able to continue, as Congress intended," RFE/RL president and CEO Stephen Capus said Thursday. "We await official confirmation from USAGM that grant funding will promptly resume based on the intention expressed in last night's letter." "We are eager to speak directly with USAGM leadership about the extraordinary and cost-effective work that RFE/RL performs for the American people." Catch up quick: RFE/RL was informed March 15 that USAGM had terminated the broadcaster's federal grant agreement. The move came as part of a directive issued by the White House to reduce statutory functions of "unnecessary governmental entities to what is required by law." The grants for its sister broadcasters, like Radio Free Asia and Middle East Broadcasting were also terminated. RFE/RL announced shortly after that it was suing USAGM, as well as Lake and acting USAGM CEO Victor Morales for efforts to terminate its Congressionally approved dollars. On Monday, a U.S. District Court hearing took place to evaluate whether to grant an emergency request by RFE/RL to receive its $7.5 million in funds appropriated for March. Just before the hearing, USAGM notified the court that it would take immediate steps to disburse the money. By the numbers: Congress has appropriated $153 million to fund RFE/RL for the fiscal year. In winning its lawsuit, RFE/RL ensures that the remaining $77 million of its funds keep the broadcaster operational through September. The big picture: Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty were originally created as separate entities to combat Communist propaganda. The two outlets, created in 1949 and 1951, respectively, were consolidated in the 1970's. Like other USAGM-funded broadcasters, its mission is to broadcast truthful, accurate news reports to places that may not have access to high-quality information, for the purpose of promoting democracy abroad. What to watch: Other USAGM funded broadcasters and groups are also taking legal action to stop the gutting of their operations.
Reuters
27-03-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Radio Free Europe says Trump administration rescinded its grant termination order
WASHINGTON, March 27 (Reuters) - U.S. government-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty said on Thursday that its parent agency had rescinded an order terminating its grant funding, after the news outlet sued the Trump administration over the cuts. RFE/RL's sister organization, Radio Free Asia, followed its lead on Thursday and sued to block a move to cancel its funding. RFE/RL, set up to reach people in communist-run countries during the Cold War, said its funding agreement for 2025 was "back in effect" after its parent organization, the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), notified it on Wednesday that the order had been rescinded. That move followed a U.S. District Court judge on Tuesday placing a temporary pause on the termination order. On March 14, the Trump administration ordered the termination of federal grants that sustain the operations of RFE/RL and its sister agencies, Voice of America (VOA) and RFA, as part of sweeping efforts to downsize the U.S. government, dealing potentially fatal blows to the U.S. government-supported media outlets. RFE/RL, which broadcasts to countries in Eastern Europe, including Russia and Ukraine, had sued last week to ensure that it receives about $77 million that Congress appropriated to it. "This is an encouraging sign that RFE/RL's operations will be able to continue, as Congress intended. We await official confirmation from USAGM that grant funding will promptly resume based on the intention expressed in last night's letter," RFE/RL President and CEO Stephen Capus said. USAGM and Kari Lake, President Donald Trump's appointee to oversee the agency, did not respond immediately to Reuters' requests for comment on what the rescinding of the order would mean for the news outlet's long-term funding. U.S. lawmakers and rights advocates say the administration's drive to dismantle U.S. government-funded media outlets is a blow to Washington's hard-earned soft power in competition against China and other adversaries. RFA's complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, said that "denying RFA its congressionally appropriated funds violates federal laws - including the U.S. Constitution - which vests Congress with exclusive power over federal spending." "RFA remains committed to fulfilling its Congressional mandate of providing a voice that counters the propaganda of the Chinese Communist Party and other authoritarian regimes in Asia," RFA President and CEO Bay Fang said in the statement. RFA has broadcast across Asia since 1996. Rights activists say its multilingual reporters provide reliable news in authoritarian countries, raising awareness about the plight of oppressed minorities such as China's Uyghur Muslims. Wholly dependent on government grants for its operations, RFA told U.S.-based staff last week that most would be put on unpaid leave, reducing the number of people working at the outlet from more than 300 to about 75. VOA, set up during World War Two, has also sued to block the termination of its funding.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
USAGM agrees to partially fund RFE/RL as judge weighs case over Trump cuts
The U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) has agreed to allocate part of the funds allocated by Congress to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), as a judge reviews a case over the cancellation of its funding, RFE/RL reported on March 24. The congressionally authorized grant funding for RFE/RL was terminated earlier this month after U.S. President Donald Trump ordered USAGM, a government agency overseeing RFE/RL, Radio Free Asia, and Voice of America, to be dismantled. RFE/RL sued USAGM on March 18 over the termination of grant funding, arguing that the step violates federal laws and the U.S. Constitution. The decision to release part of the funds by March 26 was announced hours before a hearing in a U.S. federal court in Washington, D.C. The funding suspension threatened the media organization's continued operation. RFE/RL President and CEO Stephen Capus expressed hope the release of two weeks' funding would sustain the broadcaster until the court rules on the case. He said denying RFE/RL funds was unlawful, as "the (U.S.) Constitution grants Congress the exclusive power of the purse." At a court hearing on March 24, USAGM's lawyer Abigail Stout argued the agency can terminate its grant agreement with RFE/RL if the broadcaster fails to meet its terms. RFE/RL is seeking full 2025 funding and a court injunction to secure it. In response, a lawyer representing RFE/RL said "it would make no sense" to allow agencies to withdraw funding already approved by Congress. RFE/RL was founded early in the Cold War to counter Soviet propaganda in Eastern Bloc countries. It has since continued providing coverage of Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, and countries in Central Asia, the Balkans, the Caucasus, and elsewhere. Some European leaders announced they may proceed to help RFE/RL with funding. Martin Dvorak, the Czech European affairs minister, said on March 18 that the Czech initiative to fund RFE/RL has already received backing from 10 countries. U.S. courts have previously sought to stall some of the executive's most radical cuts, which were presented as an effort to slash waste, including the gutting of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Trump's allies have publicly questioned the court's jurisdiction over the executive branch's decisions, raising concerns about a looming constitutional crisis. Read also: 'A lot of problems for Russia' — How Ukraine's new 3,000km drone could boost Kyiv's war effort We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
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.
