The lawsuit claims that withholding the funds designated for Radio Liberty is a violation of the U.S. Constitution.
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), challenging the agency’s failure to allocate funds intended for the radio station. The complaint, filed on March 18, names USAGM officials Kerry Lake and Victor Morales, alleging that the withholding of these funds violates the U.S. Constitution and federal law.
According to Radio Liberty’s press release, the lawsuit aims to prevent cuts to federal grants provided to the station. The organization argues that the lack of funding, specifically allocated by Congress, constitutes a breach of both federal law and the U.S. Constitution, which grants Congress exclusive authority over federal spending.
The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, where the station’s legal team hopes to block any further reductions to federal support.
Steven Kapus, President of Radio Liberty, expressed confidence in the station’s legal stance. “This is not the time to bow to the propaganda and censorship of America’s enemies,” Kapus said. “We believe the law is on our side, and that the bullies are celebrating our early demise.”
Victor Morales, the interim head of USAGM, and senior advisor Carey Lake have yet to comment publicly on the lawsuit.
The case has attracted international attention, with European Union (EU) politicians discussing potential support for Radio Liberty. Czech Minister for European Affairs, Martin Dvorak, voiced support for the initiative in Brussels, urging the EU to act swiftly. Dvorak also suggested that more countries would join the effort once the matter is raised at the EU General Affairs Council. The Czech Republic has already raised the issue, with EU foreign ministers discussing it during their meeting on March 17.
The controversy surrounding Radio Liberty comes after the Trump administration’s decision to furlough hundreds of media workers who broadcast to international audiences. The move has particularly affected organizations like Voice of America and Radio Liberty. Employees of both media outlets were informed that they would no longer be allowed in offices and would need to return their press credentials, work phones, and other equipment.
The furloughs are a result of a presidential directive signed by President Trump on March 14, 2025, which mandates significant cuts to staffing levels at seven independent federal agencies, including USAGM. The directive calls for reducing personnel at agencies like the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH), the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), in addition to USAGM.
USAGM oversees the distribution of information in 50 languages, reaching an audience of 361 million viewers worldwide. The agency’s total budget for 2025 is expected to be $950 million, with approximately $153 million allocated for Radio Liberty.
Radio Liberty broadcasts in 27 languages across 23 countries.
