VOA and RFE/RL status updates

 

Voice of America Fights Its Way Back

A federal judge halts the dismantling of the U.S.-funded international broadcaster (for now)

By Randy J. Stine

Published: March 28, 2025, Updated: March 30, 2025

Recent efforts by the Trump administration to defund and shut down international news organizations like Voice of America have hit some roadblocks this past week. 

On Friday, a Manhattan federal judge temporarily blocked the White House from silencing VOA, according to a blog post by legal news service Law360.

After a morning hearing, U.S. District Court Judge J. Paul Oetken issued a temporary restraining order saying the funding cut by the U.S. Agency for Global Media, VOA’s parent company, was a “classic case of arbitrary policymaking.”

A group including six VOA journalists filed a federal lawsuit on March 21 to halt the cuts by USAGM, which is the federal agency overseeing all U.S. civilian international media. The plaintiffs in their suit cited the “lawlessness and discriminatory animus” of USAGM’s actions as reason for the court’s needed intervention. 

The VOA employees, which includes VOA’s White House Bureau Chief Patsy Widakuswara, specifically named Victor Morales, CEO of USAGM, and the government agency’s special advisor, Kari Lake, in their suit. They also cited President Trump’s longtime displeasure with the news coverage disseminated by USAGM networks worldwide. 

Additional story at: 

https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/headlines/voice-of-america-fights-its-way-back?utm_term=A8208372-8B15-4B60-A12B-B5B02339D50A&lrh=5fe29bca13dc3e17fdcf1cf80df5f0574faf550d6593cce4d12e8d4836f3656a&utm_campaign=0028F35E-226C-4B60-AC88-AB2831C8A639&utm_medium=email&utm_content=BAFF1B03-6CF4-4579-B941-6AEB57163E6C&utm_source=SmartBrief

Tiny URL https://tinyurl.com/2epb56eh

RFE/RL Back in Business

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"This is an encouraging sign that RFE/RL’s operations will be able to continue"

By RW Staff

Published: March 27, 2025, Updated: March 28, 2025

Update: On Friday March 28, RFE/RL said it was still awaiting the promised funds described below. “Until then, we will pursue all necessary legal remedies to ensure that Congressional intent is respected,” it said in a release.

The U.S. Agency for Global Media has rescinded its letter terminating RFE/RL’s grant agreement for fiscal  2025. “The agreement is therefore back in effect,” RFE/RL said in a press release.

According to the website The Hill, the Trump administration restored funding for both Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and the Open Technology Fund after the groups sued. The Hill reports that the judge will hold a hearing Monday if the agreement falls through.

(Radio World)