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The European Union is planning to move forward with emergency funding to support Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) after the Trump administration cut US funding.
Some shit you should know before you read: If you’re unaware, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) is a US-funded international broadcaster that was established during the early years of the Cold War to counter Soviet propaganda in Eastern Europe. Radio Free Europe began broadcasting in 1950 to Soviet satellite states, and Radio Liberty followed shortly after, targeting audiences inside the Soviet Union. Initially funded covertly by the CIA until the 1970s, the organization has since been overseen by the US Agency for Global Media and receives annual congressional appropriations—typically around $125 million per year. RFE/RL operates as an editorially independent outlet, producing news in 27 languages across 23 countries, including regions where press freedom is limited or under threat.
What’s going on now: The European Union is moving to provide $6.2 million in emergency financial support to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) after the Trump administration abruptly cut off US government funding earlier this year. The EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, described the assistance as “short-term emergency funding” designed to serve as a “safety net for independent journalism,” particularly in countries bordering the EU that rely on external sources of reliable news.
According to Kallas, the support will help RFE/RL continue operating in regions like Eastern Europe and Central Asia, where the outlet plays a critical role in countering state-controlled narratives and providing access to uncensored information.
The US funding suspension, which came in March 2025, deeply disrupted RFE/RL’s operations. The broadcaster faced an immediate financial crisis and warned that it would be forced to shut down by June without restored support. According to Politico Europe and Euronews, while RFE/RL avoided formal mass layoffs, the loss of funding halted new programming, paused long-term projects, and left more than 1,700 staff members across 23 countries facing uncertainty. The organization also froze recruitment and scaled back coverage in high-risk areas, including war zones like Ukraine and Afghanistan, where independent journalism is most vital.
In an effort to restore its funding, RFE/RL filed a lawsuit against the US government, arguing that the administration’s refusal to disburse $12 million already appropriated by Congress violated federal law. A US federal judge ruled in RFE/RL’s favor, ordering the government to release the funds.
