WASHINGTON — On Tuesday, a federal judge mandated the Trump administration to reinstate $12 million earmarked by Congress for Radio Free Europe, a pro-democracy media platform that faces the threat of shutdown for the first time in its 75-year history.
U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth offered an insightful reminder of the crucial separation of powers within the U.S. government in his ruling. He emphasized that the checks and balances inscribed in the U.S. Constitution must remain robust to ensure the nation’s continuing prosperity.
Lamberth’s decision included a temporary restraining order requiring the U.S. Agency for Global Media to fund Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) through April 2025 while a lawsuit challenging the administration’s moves proceeds. The judge clarified that the Trump administration couldn’t annul Congress-approved funding on its own.
“In various mediums, critics from both government and non-government sectors have alleged that courts — including my own — are escalating a constitutional crisis, undermining the Presidency’s Article II powers, overshadowing public will, or directing executive agency operations,” Lamberth, a Reagan appointee, conveyed in his ruling.
These concerns represent a “misunderstanding” of the judiciary’s role and the Constitution’s essence, he argued. The judge noted, “Complex legal disputes like this can yield diverse reasonable conclusions,” stressing the importance of appellate courts. Furthermore, he suggested the administration could appeal to Congress to withdraw the funds if necessary.
Lawyers representing the media outlet have stated that President Donald Trump’s administration ceased almost all contracts with freelance journalists, struggled with lease payments, and furloughed 122 employees. They warn further furloughs and cancellations loom on May 1 if funding remains unallocated.
“Come May’s end, RFE/RL will terminate contracts fundamental to its core live news broadcasting and operations,” the plaintiffs’ attorneys expressed. They fear that by June 2025, RFE/RL’s operations might nearly vanish.
Government attorneys contested the court’s jurisdiction over what it classified as a contract disagreement fit for the Court of Federal Claims, asserting, “Plaintiff aims to position this Court as a referee for the grant agreement terms between the parties, an inappropriate policymaking role.”
Since the Cold War, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty has been broadcasting in 27 languages across 23 countries in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East. With corporate headquarters in Washington and journalistic operations centered in the Czech Republic, its reach is global.
The Trump administration’s attempts to impose drastic cuts extend to other government-backed pro-democracy media, including Voice of America. However, on April 22, Lamberth ruled against the administration’s effort to dismantle Voice of America, decreeing that the requirement was unlawful. This outcome protected Voice of America from its first operational halt since World War II.
In his ruling, Lamberth highlighted the legislative process, wherein laws are passed by Congress and require presidential approval, a process followed in March when Trump signed the funding allocation.
Federal judges, like Lamberth, operate without bias in their decision-making and hold no vested interest in individual cases. He reiterated his impartial stance toward both the president and media outlets.
Courts are tasked with constitutional interpretation, declaring the law’s meaning, and differ from the executive branch, which lacks independent enforcement capabilities.
By issuing his ruling, Lamberth asserted his contribution to the constitutional framework that has positioned the U.S. as a beacon of liberty and prosperity for nearly 250 years. He maintained that the nation’s thriving future demands each government’s branch uphold its constitutional responsibilities determined by the Founding Fathers.