Trump administration efforts to gut government-funded media face pushback in court
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios
Efforts by the Trump administration to gut Congressionally approved funds for agencies overseen by the U.S. Agency for Global Media are facing early legal setbacks, as judges side with agencies and employees in their lawsuits against the government.
Why it matters: The rulings present challenges for the Trump administration as it seeks to make broader government cuts as part of its effort to reduce spending through the Department of Government Efficiency.
- The rulings so far suggest judges will step in if it thinks the Trump administration is overstepping its authority in cutting programs mandated by Congress.
State of play: A federal judge last week sided with Voice of America journalists in their lawsuit against the Trump administration filed last month.
- Employees sued USAGM officials for effectively dismantling the five broadcast agencies it supports. The lawsuit was filed to seek relief from efforts to shutter VOA and its sister networks.
- On Friday, a District Court judge issued a temporary restraining order against USAGM to prevent it from further efforts to shutter VOA. In his ruling, the judge said the executive branch was overstepping its bounds by trying to shutter an agency whose budget was already Congressionally mandated.
Zoom in: The decision came shortly after USAGM special adviser Kari Lake withdrew an order to terminate the 2025 funding grant for VOA's sister broadcaster Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
- RFE/RL last month sued USAGM, as well as Lake and acting USAGM CEO Victor Morales, for efforts to terminate its Congressionally approved dollars.
- Just ahead of a hearing about part of the lawsuit last week, USAGM notified the court that it would take immediate steps to disburse Congressionally approved funds to RFE/RL for the month of March.
- RFE/RL president Steve Capus said Tuesday the broadcaster has begun to "furlough a large percentage of staff" as it hasn't received its funding.
By the numbers: USAGM's 2025 budget, which was approved by Congress last year, totaled $950 million to fund five international broadcasters and other nonprofits. Below is breakdown of how that money was approved for distribution across the main USAGM subsidiaries.
- Voice of America: $300 million
- Office of Cuba Broadcasting: $16 million
- Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty: $153 million:
- Radio Free Asia: $71 million
- Middle East Broadcasting Networks: $103 million
- Open Technology Fund: $50 million
What to watch: Other USAGM-funded broadcasters and groups are also taking legal action to stop the gutting of their operations.
- The Open Technology Fund, an independent nonprofit that's a subdivision within the USAGM, has also sued USAGM for withholding funds.
- Similarly, Radio Free Asia filed a lawsuit against USAGM on Thursday.
Editor's Note: This story was updated to include RFE/RL furloughs.
