The US Agency for Global Media (USAGM) will allocate a portion of the grant funds to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), while the media company itself continues to seek full funding for the 2025 budget year. About this informs “Radio Liberty”.
USAGM has committed to provide funding that will cover the period from March 1 to March 14, when federal funding is officially announced. It is about the amount of 7.46 million dollars. These funds must be paid by March 26, and RFE/RL will receive them by the end of the month.
“The agency has taken immediate administrative action to begin disbursing the funds,” – says the USAGM letter.
During a March 24 hearing, Justice Department spokeswoman Abigail Stout, who is defending USAGM’s position, said the agency has the right to terminate the agreement under the International Broadcasting Act if RFE/RL violates its terms.
At the same time, RWE/RS attorney David Zayontz stressed that “it would make no sense for Congress” to approve funding if agencies can act at their own discretion.
“RVE/RS is still trying to obtain the remaining grant funds for the full 2025 budget year, which ends on September 30, 2025, and is seeking a preliminary injunction to that end. Judge Royce Lambert is expected to rule on the injunction in the coming weeks.” – says the message.
We will remind that the decision to stop funding appeared shortly after US President Donald Trump signed a decree on the maximum reduction of seven agencies, including USAGM, within the limits of current legislation.
The grant to RVE/RS was terminated in a letter signed by Carey Lake, who identified her position as “Senior Advisor to the Acting Executive Director, USAGM, with authority delegated by the Acting Executive Director.” The letter stated that further funding “no longer meets the agency’s priorities.” No additional explanations were provided.
