Federal Judge Orders Resumption of International Broadcasts

A recent ruling by a federal judge in Washington, D.C., has mandated the Trump administration to reinstate employees and resume operations at several key international broadcasters, including Voice of America, Radio Free Asia, and Middle East Broadcasting Networks. This decision comes amidst ongoing lawsuits from affected employees and contractors.

Judge’s Ruling on Congressional Mandate

U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth, who presided over the case, declared on Tuesday that the operations of these broadcasters are essential and mandated by Congress, thus they cannot be unilaterally terminated or defunded by the executive branch. This decision counters the stance of the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which argued that no final decision had been made regarding the future of these entities and labeled the lawsuits as mere employment disputes.

Judge Lamberth expressed skepticism towards USAGM’s claims, stating, “It strains credulity to conclude the USAGM is ‘still standing’ when its 80-year-old flagship news service, VOA, has gone completely dark with no signs of returning.”

Impact on Middle East Broadcasting Networks

Jeffrey Gedmin, president and chief executive of Middle East Broadcasting Networks (MBN), hailed the ruling as a vital step towards ensuring that the Middle Eastern audience retains full access to America’s distinctive perspective. MBN, a nonprofit Arabic-language broadcaster, was established post-September 11 to deliver reliable news in the Middle East and counter prevalent anti-American bias.

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In a recent article for National Review, Gedmin emphasized the strategic importance of MBN, noting that extremist groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis could benefit from the absence of such American broadcasting efforts. He argued, “Closing MBN is not making America great again in a region critical to President Trump’s foreign policy agenda.”

Funding and Administration Controversy

Despite Congress allocating funds for these broadcasters in a continuing resolution signed by President Donald Trump, the USAGM, directed by senior advisor Kari Lake, withheld the funds. This action followed President Trump’s executive order aimed at reducing federal bureaucracy, which included directives to eliminate USAGM as far as legally permissible.

The administration’s move to cut back on these soft-power tools has been criticized as a strategic misstep, giving leeway to American adversaries. Moreover, some White House officials have accused the broadcasters of disseminating left-wing propaganda, further complicating the situation.