Sightful Invest
  • Business
  • Investing
  • Politics
  • Stock
Top Posts
US-backed Gaza aid group launches bold new system...
Biden doctor pleads the Fifth in speedy House...
Watchdog backs Rubio’s sanctions on UN official over...
Trump taps Sean Duffy to serve as interim...
Trump cautioned Putin he would ‘bomb the s—‘...
I worked for the most successful third party...
‘Gut check time’: Dissent among Senate GOP ranks...
New book reveals what Obama and ‘conqueror’ Trump...
Trump had very unexpected convo with Obama at...
10 reasons the DOJ and FBI face backlash...
  • Business
  • Investing
  • Politics
  • Stock

Sightful Invest

Politics

Federal judge temporarily blocks shutdown of US-funded radio network

by admin March 26, 2025
March 26, 2025
Federal judge temporarily blocks shutdown of US-funded radio network

A federal judge in Washington, D.C., temporarily blocked the shutdown of a U.S.-funded radio network. 

U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth, who was appointed by former President Ronald Reagan, granted a temporary restraining order on the shutdown of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), a non-profit news organization originally founded in the 1950s by the Central Intelligence Agency to broadcast behind the Iron Curtain during the Cold War. 

Congress later began funding RFE/RL in the 1970s to promote democracy across the globe. 

The judge found Kari Lake, the longtime Arizona broadcaster and unsuccessful gubernatorial and Senate candidate tapped to oversee the U.S. Agency for Global Media, likely violated federal law in moving to slash RFE/RFL’s funding in line with President Donald Trump’s agenda to eliminate government waste. 

The U.S. Agency for Global Media houses Radio Free Europe and Asia, as well as Voice of America and Radio Marti in Cuba. 

‘RFE/RL has, for decades, operated as one of the organizations that Congress has statutorily designated to carry out this policy,’ Lamberth wrote. ‘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.’

Trump signed an executive order earlier this month aimed at dismantling U.S.-funded media organizations. A senior White House official told Fox News Digital at the time that Voice of America ‘has been out of step with America for years.’

‘It serves as the Voice for Radical America and has pushed divisive propaganda for years now,’ the official said. 

The executive order, which targets seven offices, including the U.S. Agency for Global Media, said ‘non-statutory components and functions of the following governmental entities shall be eliminated to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law, and such entities shall reduce the performance of their statutory functions and associated personnel to the minimum presence and function required by law.’ 

RFE/RFL sued in federal court, saying that the administration immediately froze nearly $7.5 million in funding already appropriated by Congress. The Justice Department wrote in court documents on Monday that the disbursement was underway and proof of payment would come by Wednesday. 

Voice of America Director Michael Abramowitz wrote on X that ‘virtually’ the whole 1300-person staff was placed on leave. 

In a court hearing Monday, Justice Department lawyer Abby Stout argued that RFE/RL has no grounds for a restraining order given the U.S. government would disburse the nearly $7.5 million. The plaintiff’s lawyer, Thomas Brugato, said the disbursement was only a temporary fix and the non-profit could expect widespread layoffs and to close by April if funding doesn’t continue.

‘It’s really a Band-Aid,’ Brugato said in court, according to The Hill. 

In his order, Lamberth said RFE/RL ‘was originally conceived of in the 1950s as a vehicle for providing trustworthy, locally relevant news to audiences subject to communist propaganda.’ 

‘Since its inception, RFE/RL has continued to expand, responding to threats to democracy and media freedom across the globe,’ the judge wrote, later concluding, ‘The Court concludes, in keeping with Congress’s longstanding determination, that the continued operation of RFE/RL is in the public interest.’

Separately, a lawsuit was brought Friday by Voice of America reporters, Reporters Without Borders and a handful of unions in U.S. District Court in New York against the U.S. Agency for Global Media and Kari Lake over efforts to shut them down. 

Fox News’ Emma Colton contributed to this report.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

previous post
Electra Secures Federal Support for North America’s Only Cobalt Sulfate Refinery
next post
Trump team’s Signal snafu sparks debate over secure comms: ‘Russia and China are listening’

You may also like

Father of Hamas’ youngest hostages is released —...

February 2, 2025

Iran claims right to nuclear prowess following Israel...

June 13, 2025

Biden-Harris admin treatment of Ukraine, Israel wars ‘differs...

November 4, 2024

Trump talks with Putin, spars with South African...

May 25, 2025

HHS SEC ROBERT F KENNEDY JR: American patients...

May 17, 2025

Senate kicks off all-night ‘vote-a-rama’ as Democrats plan...

April 5, 2025

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee has passed away after...

July 20, 2024

Hamas agrees to return bodies of 4 Israeli...

February 26, 2025

Trump ends feud with swing-state governor he slammed...

August 23, 2024

Trump’s Justice Department order to drop charges against...

February 14, 2025

Recent Posts

  • US-backed Gaza aid group launches bold new system to deliver food directly to families
  • Biden doctor pleads the Fifth in speedy House closed-door interview
  • Watchdog backs Rubio’s sanctions on UN official over ‘shameful efforts’ targeting US, Israel
  • Trump taps Sean Duffy to serve as interim NASA chief
  • Trump cautioned Putin he would ‘bomb the s—‘ out of Moscow if Russia invaded Ukraine, new book claims

    Become a VIP member by signing up for our newsletter. Enjoy exclusive content, early access to sales, and special offers just for you! As a VIP, you'll receive personalized updates, loyalty rewards, and invitations to private events. Elevate your experience and join our exclusive community today!


    By opting in you agree to receive emails from us and our affiliates. Your information is secure and your privacy is protected.

    Categories

    • Business (819)
    • Investing (2,497)
    • Politics (3,095)
    • Stock (4)
    • About us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions

    Disclaimer: sightfulinvest.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

    Copyright © 2024 Sightful Invest. All Rights Reserved.