A federal judge has ruled against former President Donald Trump's decision to eliminate federal funding for public broadcasting in the United States. Judge Randolph Moss declared the funding cut illegal and unconstitutional, stating it cannot be implemented.
According to reports, Trump, with congressional support, moved last year to strip federal funding from public service broadcasters that he had long criticized as "left-leaning." The decision would have affected funding for more than 1,500 local radio and television stations across the country, including major public broadcasting organizations PBS and NPR.
left-leaning
Judge Moss reportedly cited constitutional free speech protections in his ruling, arguing that the government cannot discriminate based on viewpoints it dislikes. The judge's decision represents a significant legal setback for efforts to defund public broadcasting based on political disagreements with content.
The ruling comes after Trump's administration had successfully pushed through the funding cuts last year, which now face judicial review and potential reversal through the court system.