Radio Free Asia (RFA) and Middle East Broadcasting Networks (MBN) provide millions of people in Asia, the Middle East, and Northern Africa with independent reporting in environments where press freedom is limited or nonexistent.

RFA was established in 1996 and is funded by USAGM. RFA broadcasts in multiple languages and delivers news through radio, online platforms, and social media to circumvent censorship. Its mission is to act as a surrogate free press in countries where independent media are suppressed, blocked, or nonexistent.

Similarly, MBN was established in 2004 and operates under USAGM. Its mission is to provide accurate and objective news and information to audiences in the Middle East and North Africa region. 

In March 2025, the Trump administration issued an executive order to dismantle USAGM, and as a consequence: 

• USAGM abruptly terminated grants to RFA and MBN, citing that the network’s grant “no longer effectuates agency priorities,” despite Congress having appropriated funds for both organizations.
• This action led RFA to furlough 75% of its U.S.-based staff and suspend over 90% of its freelance journalists, drastically hindering its ability to broadcast and report.
• The funding cut also forced MBN to furlough over 90% of its U.S.-based staff and significantly reduce its programming.

Following this funding freeze, RFA and MBN, represented by Democracy Forward and Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP, filed two separate lawsuits in which they challenge the unlawful shuttering of their agencies and asked the courts for immediate release to stop the effects of the funding freeze and to reinstate their fired employees.

The lawsuits argue that the Trump administration’s block on congressionally appropriated funds violates the separation of powers and several other clauses of the United States Constitution. They urge the court to require multiple federal officials and agencies—including USAGM, the Office of Management and Budget, and the U.S. Department of the Treasury—to restore the frozen funding immediately.

On April 25, the United States District Court of the District of Columbia granted a preliminary injunction to stop the unlawful defunding of RFA and MBN, ensuring that USAGM cannot withhold the funds that Congress specifically appropriated for RFA and MBN while the lawsuit continues, to ensure that they can continue providing uncensored, independent reporting to areas where free speech and free press are threatened. 

The government appealed the preliminary injunction decision to the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. 

On May 1, 2025, the Court of Appeals granted the government’s request for “an administrative stay,” meaning that the injunction order granted by the district court will be on hold while the Court of Appeals considers the government’s appeal. However, the administrative stay in this case only affects the disbursement of the funds. The employees must still be reinstated to their organizations.

RFA and MBN asked the Court of Appeals to stop the effects of the order that stop the effects of the preliminary injunction. In consequence, the preliminary injunction is still valid.

The cases are Radio Free Asia v. U.S. et al., and Middle East Broadcasting Networks v. U.S. et al.