A judge has put on hold plans by Donald Trump to close Radio Free Europe.
US District Judge Royce Lamberth granted a temporary restraining order to the broadcaster, after concluding that the Trump administration’s efforts to shut it down would cause irreparable harm.
In a written judgement he said “the continued operation of RFE/RL is in the public interest”.
“Congress has found that ‘it is the policy of the United States to promote the right of freedom of opinion and expression’ and that ‘open communication of information and ideas among the peoples of the world contributes to international peace and stability.’ RFE/RL has, for decades, operated as one of the organizations that Congress has statutorily designated to carry out this policy. The leadership of USAGM [US Agency for Global Media] cannot, with one sentence of reasoning offering virtually no explanation, force RFE/RL to shut down-even if the President has told them to do so.”
Separately, President Trump has suggested public broadcasters NPR and PBS should also be defunded. The broadcasters run on a $535 million grant from Congress paid through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Stations also fundraise locally and receive donations.
“We’re well covered. Look at all the people that we have here today,” Trump told media at the White House. “We’re well covered, and we don’t need [funding for NPR and PBS], and it’s a waste of money.”
On Wednesday PBS and NPR executives are due to appear before the House DOGE subcommittee on federal support for public broadcasting networks.
