The EU will give €5.5 million to support Radio Free Europe after the Trump administration cut its funding.
(WE) — The European Union has announced emergency financial support for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), after President Donald Trump halted U.S. government funding for the outlet as part of a broader media budget reduction.
On Tuesday, Kaja Kallas, the EU’s foreign policy chief, confirmed the bloc would provide €5.5 million (about $6.2 million) in short-term aid. She called the funding “a safety net for independent journalism,” explaining it will help RFE/RL continue essential operations. The announcement came after a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels.
Kallas said the emergency assistance will focus on regions in the EU’s immediate neighborhood, such as Eastern Europe and Central Asia. “Our focus should be to help Radio Free Europe work in countries that depend heavily on external news sources,” she told reporters. She also urged the 27 EU member states to consider additional contributions to keep RFE/RL functioning longer term.
The move comes after the Trump administration suspended all federal funding to RFE/RL and other U.S.-backed outlets, including Voice of America (VOA), in March. Trump cited the need to reduce government spending. However, critics say political motivations drive the cuts, and they view them as an attempt by the administration to weaken media outlets that challenge its views.
Earlier this month, Trump signed an executive order cutting subsidies to PBS and NPR, accusing both of promoting “left-wing propaganda” and biased reporting. Legal experts and press freedom groups argue that these decisions threaten U.S. media independence.
RFE/RL’s lawyers recently won a court order requiring the Trump administration to release $12 million approved by Congress. A federal judge ruled in April that the administration could not block the funds unilaterally. However, the money has not been disbursed. Legal representatives say that without it, RFE/RL will shut down in June.
Founded during the Cold War, RFE/RL began broadcasting in 1950. Initially funded through the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the service aimed to provide uncensored news to audiences behind the Iron Curtain. Radio Liberty, its sister outlet, began transmissions into the Soviet Union a few years later. Today, both operate as nonprofit corporations overseen by the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), though they maintain editorial independence.
RFE/RL’s corporate headquarters are in Washington, D.C., while its main journalistic hub is in Prague, Czech Republic. The service broadcasts in 27 languages to 23 countries across Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East. It employs over 1,700 journalists, editors, and staff.
In recent years, RFE/RL has played a critical role in covering conflicts and authoritarian crackdowns, especially in Russia and Ukraine. The Russian government has labeled the outlet a “foreign agent” and banned its operations on Russian soil, citing what it calls “biased reporting.” Moscow has accused the service of inciting unrest and spreading Western propaganda. RFE/RL denies these claims and says it provides fact-based, independent journalism to regions that lack press freedom.
As U.S. funding dries up, European leaders say RFE/RL’s role has become more vital than ever. Kallas emphasized the importance of maintaining free and independent journalism, especially in fragile democracies and conflict zones.
“Independent media is a cornerstone of democracy,” she said. “We must ensure that communities without press freedom still have access to reliable information.”
The funding commitment is part of a larger conversation in Europe about stepping up in areas where the U.S. is pulling back. EU officials have voiced concern over Washington’s broader cuts to foreign aid and global institutions. They argue that transatlantic values—especially support for democracy and free speech—should not depend on partisan politics.
Kallas noted that the bloc is reviewing other “strategic areas” where it can fill gaps left by U.S. funding withdrawals. These include humanitarian aid, education, and democracy-building programs. She said the EU will continue monitoring the situation at RFE/RL and other independent media facing sudden budget shortfalls.
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RFE/RL has survived many political shifts and budget battles in its 75-year history. Still, insiders say the current situation is among the most precarious it has faced. Some regional bureaus have already reduced coverage, and managers in several countries have warned staff about potential layoffs.
Staff members, speaking anonymously due to concerns over their jobs, say morale has dropped sharply since the funding freeze began. Many worry that the outlet’s reputation for fearless reporting is now at risk—not because of hostile governments, but because of political decisions in Washington.
Advocates of press freedom, including organizations like Reporters Without Borders and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), have issued urgent appeals for the U.S. to restore funding. In a recent statement, the CPJ called the cuts “a direct attack on global press freedom.”
Others warn that the reduction in U.S. funding sends a dangerous signal to authoritarian regimes. If the United States no longer supports independent journalism abroad, they argue, regimes like those in Iran, Belarus, and Tajikistan may feel emboldened to further repress local and foreign media.
The EU’s financial support will not solve all of RFE/RL’s problems, but it provides a lifeline. With the funding, the outlet can keep key operations running, especially in strategically important countries such as Ukraine, Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Moldova, where it has large audiences and significant influence.
According to internal documents, the emergency grant will prioritize bureaus that face shutdown threats. The Prague headquarters will remain operational, and a skeleton crew in Washington will oversee budgeting and legal efforts to recover blocked U.S. funds.
Senior journalists at RFE/RL stress that even with the emergency aid, the outlet must make significant cuts. RFE/RL is suspending or scaling down several ongoing projects, including documentaries, podcast series, and investigative reporting units. The outlet will also reduce coverage in some languages unless it secures more funding.
While EU funding offers a reprieve, RFE/RL’s future remains uncertain. It depends on the next U.S. administration. It also depends on whether allies like the EU continue to step up.
For now, RFE/RL’s story reflects a global trend. Public-interest media face rising vulnerability amid political polarization, economic strain, and declining international cooperation.
Supporters hope the outlet’s core values—truth, accountability, and independent information—will carry it through this crisis. But many warn that political interference in global broadcasting could cause harm beyond one newsroom.
