A federal judge has ordered the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) to stop depriving Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty of federal grant money for its operations, The Desk has learned.
The action — which was handed down in court on Tuesday, according to court documents obtained by The Desk — comes after attorneys for Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty sought a restraining order that prevents USAGM from moving forward with austerity measures connected that are rooted in an Executive Order signed by President Donald Trump earlier this month.
The Executive Order required USAGM and six other federal agencies to wind down their activities and suspend non-essential federal employees, a move that led to layoffs affecting more than 1,000 journalists at media organizations directly under USAGM’s control, including the Voice of America (VOA).
Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty is an independent, non-profit broadcaster that provides news, information and entertainment to Eastern Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. It is distinct from VOA and other USAGM-controlled broadcasters in that it operates separate from the U.S. government and its agencies. But it receives federal funding through acts of Congress, and that funding allows USAGM to have oversight of Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty and its operations.
Earlier this month, USAGM understood its oversight to include the ability to withhold federal grant money from Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, which triggered an immediate legal challenge.
This week, attorneys representing Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty moved for a restraining order that prevents USAGM from further withholding federal grant money intended for its operations. On Monday, USAGM said it made a payment to Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty totaling $7.4 million, which was intended to offset immediate damages caused to the broadcaster.
On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Royce Lambert ruled Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty’s motion for the $7.4 million disbursement was moot, given that USAGM had already committed to making the payment. Lambert otherwise approved the restraining order, which prevents USAGM from withholding further grant payments while the lawsuit proceeds.
“The leadership of USAGM 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,” Lambert wrote.
