Radio Free Asia Files Emergency Motion to Stop Government’s Unlawful Funding Termination
Democracy Forward and Munger Tolles & Olson Seek Immediate Court Intervention to Prevent Irreparable Harm to Independent Media
WASHINGTON — Today, Democracy Forward and Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP filed an emergency motion for a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) to stop the Trump administration’s unlawful and unprecedented attempt to defund and shut down Radio Free Asia (RFA), a critical source of independent journalism in Asia.
The legal filing comes after the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) impounded congressionally appropriated funds and abruptly terminated RFA’s grant—despite Congress mandating that those funds “shall be allocated” to RFA. The move, unconstitutional and contrary to longstanding federal law, has already forced the organization to furlough 75% of its U.S.-based staff and suspend more than 90% of its freelance journalists.
“The government’s actions are an unlawful attempt to dismantle one of the most vital sources of independent journalism in authoritarian regions,” said Robin Thurston, Legal Director at Democracy Forward. “This isn’t just about Radio Free Asia, though the impacts felt will be significant. This is about whether the executive branch can ignore Congress.”
RFA, which reaches more than 60 million people weekly across countries like China, North Korea, and Myanmar, was created by Congress to serve as a counterweight to authoritarian propaganda. The TRO motion seeks to ensure that RFA can access the funds that Congress has already appropriated for RFA’s use and follows a lawsuit filed earlier this week.
“RFA is committed to fulfilling its Congressional mandate of providing uncensored, accurate news and information to people in some of the most repressive countries in the world. We believe we will prevail as the law is on our side,” said Bay Fang, RFA President and CEO.
The filing emphasizes the irreparable harm being done to RFA’s operations, its reputation, and its ability to protect journalists reporting from some of the most dangerous parts of the world. Without court intervention, RFA is expected to fully shut down by the end of April.
The complaint can be read here, and the memo in support motion for a temporary restraining order can be read here.
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