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Radio Free Asia Sues USAGM to Protect Critical Tool Against Propaganda
Washington, DC — Today, Democracy Forward and Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP filed suit on behalf of Radio Free Asia (RFA) to block the U.S. Agency for Global Media’s (USAGM) attempt to cancel federal funds appropriated by Congress to support an organization that holds accountable the Chinese Communist Party and other authoritarian regimes in Asia. This is the second lawsuit that Democracy Forward has filed against USAGM in the past week, to address a concerning trend in attempts to undermine global media. RFA is funded by the U.S. Congress through grants administered by the USAGM. The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, argues that denying RFA its congressionally-appropriated funds violates federal laws—including the U.S. Constitution, which vests Congress with exclusive power over federal spending. The lawsuit asserts that the agency jeopardized the safety of RFA’s journalists and undermined RFA’s congressionally-mandated mission by wrongfully terminating the grant agreement and withholding RFA’s appropriated funds.“RFA remains committed to fulfilling its Congressional mandate of providing a voice that counters the propaganda of the Chinese Communist Party and other authoritarian regimes in Asia. They may be celebrating RFA’s defunding right now, but we are confident that we shall prevail in blocking the unlawful termination of our grant,” RFA President and CEO Bay Fang said.“Silencing those who report the truth makes Americans less safe at home and abroad, and further compromises the United States’ leadership in the world,” said Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward. “Leaders in both parties acknowledge the dire need for independent journalism in Asian countries, which allows the U.S. to counter false narratives and aggression. We will use all legal tools to protect Radio Free Asia and the reporters that power its coverage.”RFA has operated with strong bipartisan support for almost three decades. Defunding RFA is “a gift to the Chinese Communist Party,” according to the Ranking Member of the House Select Committee on China, and “cedes leverage to the Chinese Communist Party, North Korea and other regimes,” according to the Chair of the House Subcommittee on East Asia and the Pacific. On March 21, RFA began furloughing the majority of its U.S.-based staff and suspending overseas contract journalists, who fuel its incisive reporting in countries, including China, North Korea, and Myanmar, where free speech and a free press are under threat. Last week, Democracy Forward and co-counsel sued USAGM on behalf of journalists, federal workers, and their unions to challenge the unlawful shuttering of the agency. The complaint filed today on behalf of Radio Free Asia is available here.
Washington, DC — Today, Democracy Forward and Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP filed suit on behalf of Radio Free Asia (RFA) to block the U.S. Agency for Global Media’s (USAGM) attempt to cancel federal funds appropriated by Congress to support an organization that holds accountable the Chinese Communist Party and other authoritarian regimes in Asia. This is the second lawsuit that Democracy Forward has filed against USAGM in the past week, to address a concerning trend in attempts to undermine global media. RFA is funded by the U.S. Congress through grants administered by the USAGM. The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, argues that denying RFA its congressionally-appropriated funds violates federal laws—including the U.S. Constitution, which vests Congress with exclusive power over federal spending. The lawsuit asserts that the agency jeopardized the safety of RFA’s journalists and undermined RFA’s congressionally-mandated mission by wrongfully terminating the grant agreement and withholding RFA’s appropriated funds.“RFA remains committed to fulfilling its Congressional mandate of providing a voice that counters the propaganda of the Chinese Communist Party and other authoritarian regimes in Asia. They may be celebrating RFA’s defunding right now, but we are confident that we shall prevail in blocking the unlawful termination of our grant,” RFA President and CEO Bay Fang said.“Silencing those who report the truth makes Americans less safe at home and abroad, and further compromises the United States’ leadership in the world,” said Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward. “Leaders in both parties acknowledge the dire need for independent journalism in Asian countries, which allows the U.S. to counter false narratives and aggression. We will use all legal tools to protect Radio Free Asia and the reporters that power its coverage.”RFA has operated with strong bipartisan support for almost three decades. Defunding RFA is “a gift to the Chinese Communist Party,” according to the Ranking Member of the House Select Committee on China, and “cedes leverage to the Chinese Communist Party, North Korea and other regimes,” according to the Chair of the House Subcommittee on East Asia and the Pacific. On March 21, RFA began furloughing the majority of its U.S.-based staff and suspending overseas contract journalists, who fuel its incisive reporting in countries, including China, North Korea, and Myanmar, where free speech and a free press are under threat. Last week, Democracy Forward and co-counsel sued USAGM on behalf of journalists, federal workers, and their unions to challenge the unlawful shuttering of the agency. The complaint filed today on behalf of Radio Free Asia is available here.
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