The United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), has not renewed its contract with the satellite operator that broadcasts the Russian Service’s programs.
As a result, 24-hour broadcasting on the Eutelsat Hotbird 13G satellite has been suspended.
In addition, due to financial difficulties, radio broadcasting in the medium-wave range of 1386 kHz has been suspended. The search for new funding is ongoing.
Radio Liberty’s broadcasts remain available via audio stream on the Svoboda.org website, on the Radio Liberty Live YouTube channel, in Telegram channels, and on popular podcast platforms.
Meanwhile, hearings on RFE/RL’s funding issue continue in the Washington, D.C. Federal District Court. The media corporation is seeking to transfer $62 million already allocated by the US Congress for the 2025 fiscal year. Earlier, the Trump administration froze the transfers, but after the court decision, partially restored the payments.
USAGM explains the delay by the need to control budget expenditures. However, the court noted that Congress and the administration have already approved the allocated funds. RFE/RL believes that USAGM’s actions cause irreparable damage to the corporation.
In March 2025, Donald Trump signed an executive order to reduce the activities of seven government agencies, including USAGM. After this, a number of American and European politicians, as well as human rights organizations, called on the United States to protect press freedom and ensure the safety of media workers funded through USAGM.
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