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The U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) has withdrawn its decision to end funding for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) through 2025, keeping the broadcaster's grant agreement in effect, RFE/RL said.
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's president, Stephen Capus, called the move an "encouraging sign" that operations can continue, although the broadcaster is still at risk.
Trump had ordered massive cuts to USAGM, which oversees all state-funded foreign broadcasting programs in the United States that are not run by the military.
A federal court judge issued a temporary restraining order against USAGM regarding the termination of funding to Radio Free Europe.
The dispute involves an unpaid $77 million grant that was supposed to last until the end of the year.
It is unclear whether Radio Free Europe will now drop its lawsuit or push forward to secure a final decision.
Founded in 1949 during the Cold War, RFE/RL provides independent news in 23 countries, including Russia, Ukraine and Iran. Russia designated the broadcaster an “undesirable organization” more than a year ago, forcing it to scale back operations there.
Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský defended Radio Free Europe, calling it one of the few sources of independent news for people living under oppression from Belarus to Iran and from Russia to Afghanistan.
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