Amwaj:

The Donald Trump administration has terminated funding for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) as part of broader cuts to US federal agencies. The move has sparked efforts to instead secure EU funding for the organization, which was established to reach people under communism during the Cold War.

RFE/RL President Stephen Capus has called the decision "a massive gift to America's enemies," stating on Mar. 15 that "Iranian Ayatollahs, Chinese communist leaders, and autocrats in Moscow and Minsk would celebrate the demise of RFE/RL after 75 years." The sudden shift has sparked European mobilization to potentially fill the void. However, the future of RFE/RL is far from clear.

Sudden and unexpected cuts

President Trump on Mar. 14 signed an executive order targeting seven federal agencies, including the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees RFE/RL. Shortly after, USAGM sent a letter to the organization’s management stating that it was terminating the Congress-approved grant that funds RFE/RL.

RFE/RL broadcasts in 27 languages across 23 countries, covering regions in Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia.

Most people working for RFE/RL, which is headquartered in Prague, found out about the grant’s termination on social media, an informed source alleged to Amwaj.media. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the source further claimed that the decision came with no prior warning and that it took even senior managers by surprise. Amwaj.media was not able to independently confirm these assertions, but other sources with knowledge of recent events painted a similar picture of uncertainty.

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