Overview

• Judge Royce Lamberth extended his injunction to include Voice of America, Radio Free Asia, Middle East Broadcasting Networks, and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, requiring their immediate funding and staffing restoration.
• The Trump administration’s March executive order had led to the furlough of over 1,000 employees and suspension of operations for these government-funded broadcasters.
• The broadcasters are funded by Congress and have a statutory mandate to provide objective news to audiences in countries with restricted press freedoms.
• The judge ruled that the administration likely violated federal statutes by attempting to defund and close these broadcasters without congressional approval.
• The Trump administration has not yet issued a formal response to the court's ruling, which preserves the broadcasters’ operations until a full hearing is concluded.