US federal judge blocks Donald Trump's order to end NPR and PBS funding
Federal grant officers cannot implement the presidential funding cut order
Change
US federal judge Randolph Moss permanently barred federal agencies from implementing Donald Trump's directive to cut all federal funding to National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), ruling the order unlawful as unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination.
Why it matters
Federal agencies are legally barred from carrying out the presidential directive to end federal funding for NPR and PBS; agencies may not use the order as legal authority to terminate or withhold federally authorised payments. The court held that government actions targeting a media organisation based on its viewpoint violate the First Amendment, so withholding funds on that basis is unlawful.
Implications
- — Federal agencies' grant officers and program managers must immediately refrain from implementing the presidential directive to cut funding to NPR and PBS — attempting to proceed would be unlawful and expose the agency to litigation.
- — Federal agency legal and compliance teams must immediately update internal legal guidance and cease relying on the executive order as a lawful basis for withholding funds — continuing to rely on it risks producing unlawful agency action and legal challenge.
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Source
View on The Guardian