Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, a US-funded news outlet created to reach people living under communism during the Cold War, is appealing to Lake Kari and the Trump administration for efforts to reimburse the organization.
The lawsuit filed in Washington, D.C., said the $7.5 million bill filed Monday had not been paid. It claims that a financing freeze will damage Congress’ wallet strings. Both entities are funded by government grants, with about 1% coming from private donations and other sources, the lawsuit says.
“Whether or not to pay the funds as per the directions of the Budget Act and whether or not these funds can be used through grants as per the directions of the International Broadcast Act are not options for an agency to make,” the lawsuit said. “It’s the law. Emergency remedies are necessary to force agencies to comply with the law.”
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If funding is not reopened, the station will be forced to fire employees working to bring news coverage to 23 countries in 27 languages, including Europe and Asia.
“This is not the time to give the terrain to the promotion and censorship of the American enemy,” RFE/RL president and CEO Stephen Capus said in a statement. We believe that laws are on our side and that celebration of our end mise by tyrannical lords around the world is premature. ”
The lawsuit nominated acting USAGM CEO Victor Morales, former Arizona television anchor, USAGM, USAGM, Victor Morales, and later running for Senate, who served as senior adviser to be Morales as a defendant.
The lawsuit comes days after President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at eliminating the USAGM.
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European leaders have warned that Radio Free Europe could struggle to find funds to replace Trump cuts.
On Monday, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky urged European Union ministers at a meeting in Brussels to consider ways to enable the continued Prague-based services. Kaja Kallas, the head of foreign policy for the EU, called Radio Free Europe a “beacon of democracy,” and said it was sad that the US decided to cut funds, Reuters reported.
“Can we put our funds in to fill the void we’re leaving? The answer to that question is… not automatically, as there are many organizations that are bringing us the same requests,” she told reporters.
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Radio Free Europe began broadcasting in Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria in 1950. Radio Liberty began airing to the Soviet Union in 1953.
Both entities were alternative news sources for media managed by the Soviet Union and other communist governments.
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