The U.S. Agency for Global Media has officially notified Congressional representatives about plans to cut funding for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Hungarian-language service, which means an end to U.S. taxpayer support for content deemed “woke” that is broadcast to NATO allies.
Kari Lake, the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), sent this notification to Mario Diaz-Balart, who chairs the House Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs. This communication was made under section 7015(a) of the Department of State’s International Broadcasting Operations Division, as well as the appropriations acts for 2024 and 2025.
The notice explains that after discussions with the State Department, USAGM has decided to “terminate and defund the Hungarian-language services of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL),” also referred to as Szabad Europa.
The administration contends that the reason for including Szabad Europa in RFE/RL’s programming back in 2019 no longer aligns with U.S. national interests. It claims that the program worked against President Trump’s foreign policy by opposing Viktor Orbán, Hungary’s elected Prime Minister. The document highlights that Orbán remains a key ally of the U.S. and a NATO member.
Furthermore, the notification states that U.S. taxpayer resources used to develop and disseminate government-funded content aimed at NATO populations will also cease. “USAGM will stop using any U.S. taxpayer funds for creating or distributing content for nationals of NATO allies,” it notes, mentioning a shift in focus toward reallocating resources in line with the administration’s priorities instead of the programming for NATO countries.
Additionally, the notice clarifies that USAGM, along with Voice of America and other tax-funded entities, are not there to serve the interests of the European Union or any foreign government but are solely committed to serving the American public. The government views the cessation of services in Hungary as important in maintaining that standard.
