US Court Orders Release of Funds for Radio Free Europe Amidst Administration Cuts and Public Support

Radio Liberty's building in Prague

Washington D.C. / Prague – Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) has secured a significant legal victory, with a U.S. court ordering the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) to release congressionally allocated funds. This ruling comes amidst growing concerns over financial threats to independent journalism and a wave of global support, including a recent public endorsement from American music icon Patti Smith.

RFE/RL, headquartered in Prague since 1995, plays a crucial role in delivering independent news to countries where a free press is restricted or undeveloped. It broadcasts in 27 languages to 23 nations, reaching millions who rely on its reporting for accurate information.

The legal battle unfolded against a backdrop of broader uncertainties for U.S.-funded international broadcasters. These include Voice of America, Radio Free Asia, the Office of Cuba Broadcasting (Radio Martí), and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks, all of which have faced proposed budget cuts and shifting political priorities under the current U.S. administration. On March 14, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at weakening the USAGM, the independent government agency that oversees these media entities and reaches hundreds of millions of people weekly in over 60 languages.

In a pivotal decision on July 18, U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ruled in favor of RFE/RL. The judge ordered USAGM to disburse the remaining funds allocated by Congress for the 2025 fiscal year, amounting to approximately $153 million for RFE/RL. Judge Lamberth's ruling explicitly stated that USAGM's actions – conditioning the release of funds on "onerous and novel grant terms" and refusing to negotiate in good faith – constituted a violation of the law.

"This is, to the Court’s knowledge, unprecedented for a government agency to attempt to impose entirely new terms on its relationship with a grantee that it has worked with for many years, and then to cease communications – especially when the agency has a statutory obligation to provide congressionally appropriated funds each year to that specifically named grantee," Judge Lamberth noted in his decision. He further highlighted that USAGM's "blatant disregard for its funding obligations" had led to mass furloughs, program cancellations, and inevitable damage to RFE/RL's decades-long global reputation.

Stephen Capus, President and CEO of RFE/RL, hailed the court's decision as the "culmination of sustained legal efforts to compel USAGM to release funds essential for RFE/RL to fulfill its vital mission." He emphasized that this victory "empowers our journalists to continue their efforts to reach approximately 47 million people who rely on our news each week and seek to learn the truth against the harmful propaganda of authoritarian governments." Capus reiterated the critical importance of not ceding the information space to "tyrants" and affirmed that RFE/RL can now continue to advance U.S. national security interests.

The financial threats to these broadcasters have galvanized a global wave of support. Just one day after the court ruling, on July 19, legendary American singer, poet, and activist Patti Smith publicly expressed her solidarity during a concert in Prague. Before performing her protest anthem "People Have The Power," the 78-year-old artist dedicated the song to "Steve (Stephen Capus) and everyone at Radio Free Europe," praising the work of RFE/RL and other public institutions for delivering crucial information worldwide. She lamented that "they are being defunded by the current administration in my country" and urged, "We must continue the fight, we must help each other." This sentiment echoes the broad support from media watchdogs, analysts, democracy advocates, and audiences across the 23 countries where RFE/RL broadcasts.

With the court's definitive ruling, RFE/RL is now poised to receive the necessary funding to continue its critical mission of providing independent and factual news to populations often deprived of a free press. This legal triumph underscores the ongoing struggle for media independence and the enduring value of reliable information in a complex global landscape.