On Tuesday, the US federal judge temporarily blocked the Donald Trump administration plan to cancel the voice of America (VoA), Radio Free Asia and the Middle East East Broadcasting Network. At the same time, he ordered her to “take all the necessary steps” and return employees and contractual partners to their original positions and restore radio, television and online news. A similar request of two other independent networks, Radio Free Europe (RFE/RL) and Open Technology Fund, was rejected by the judge. According to the AP report, TASR reports this.
In early March, Trump’s administration has been canceled by the United States for the Global Media (USAGM), supervising VoA – the largest and oldest international broadcaster in the US – and providing RFA grants, Radio Free Europe (RFE) and others.
Blocked financing
In 2024, USAGM had approximately 3,500 employees and an annual budget of $ 886 million approved by the US Congress. After a sudden termination of broadcasting in March, it ordered the leave to more than 1,000 employees and reported 600 to the contractual partners that she would terminate their employment. Trump’s counselor Kari Lake, in turn, began issuing announcements on the termination of all the funding that Congress has earmarked for the stations.
Washington Judge Royce Lamberth, who assesses six claims of employees and suppliers affected by the shutdown of the USAGM, granted their request for a preliminary court order, which is a temporary measure, as long as the court examines the legal objection more closely.
Criticism of Trump’s government
In the decision, he wrote that Congress has financed and allowed the broadcasting of stations to provide a “accurate, objective and comprehensive” source of reports in other countries and spread “the basic US values of freedom of speech, freedom of the press and open discussion”. According to him, the congress set the broadcast as compulsory and did not allow executive power to unilaterally terminate or cancel it.
“My colleagues and I are grateful for this decision. However, we know that this is only a small step forward because the government is likely to be appealed,” said Axios, one of the applicants, Voa Patsy Widakuswara.
Trump’s administration, according to Lambertha, “probably violates many federal laws”. He added that USAGM may, by law, redirect part of the funds, but no legislation “gives it the power to reduce funding to such a drastic extent” as Trump’s government wants.
