The Czech Republic is seeking EU support to run European/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) for free radio after the Trump administration cuts funding for global broadcasters.
Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said the Prague-based RFE/RL was “one of the few reliable sources of dictatorships in Iran, Belarus and Afghanistan.”
In Eastern Europe, US government-funded outlets reached millions of listeners during the Cold War, helping communist authorities spread democratic values while still maintaining strict control over local media.
Elon Musk, who is responsible for cost cuts under Donald Trump, dismissed RFE/RL as “a crazy person who has left radically and torches $1 billion in taxpayer money a year while talking to himself.”
However, Stephen Capus, president and CEO of RFE/RL, said that quitting the station’s grant agreement would “will be a massive gift to the adversary of America.”
“The Iranian Ayatollahs in Moscow and Minsk, the communist leaders of China and the dictators will celebrate the end of the RFE/RL in 75 years,” he added.
Kapus’ concerns were reflected by an independent committee to protect journalists (CPJs). This has complained that thousands of journalists will be hit by cuts in US funding.
The RFE/RL says it reaches an audience of 50 million people every week from nearly 50 million people in 23 countries, including Central Asia and the Caucasus Russia, Ukraine, Iran, Afghanistan and the former Soviet republic.
Czech Republic’s Lipavsky said he would discuss “how to maintain broadcasting at least in part” with fellow EU foreign ministers.
RFE/RL, Radio Free Asia, and Voice of America (VOA) have relied for decades on funding from the US Global Media Agency (USAGM).
President Trump signed an executive order on Friday to cut funds after Musk corned with X, saying “shut down.”
The move contrasts with the media policies of Russian, Chinese and Iranian authorities, who have poured funds into state broadcasters to counter the influence of Western liberalism around the world.
Most of VOA’s full-time staff are on administrative leave, and contractors for broadcasting stations that control language services other than English have been fired, AFP news agency reports.
