\n<\/p>\n
WASHINGTON \u2014 A federal judge on Tuesday agreed to permanently block the Trump administration from implementing a presidential directive to end federal funding for National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting Service.<\/p>\n
U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss in Washington ruled that President Donald Trump\u2019s executive order to cease funding for NPR and PBS is unlawful and unenforceable. The judge said the First Amendment right to free speech \u201cdoes not tolerate viewpoint discrimination and retaliation of this type.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is difficult to conceive of clearer evidence that a government action is targeted at viewpoints that the President does not like and seeks to squelch,\u201d wrote Moss, who was nominated to the bench by President Barack Obama, a Democrat. The judge noted that Trump\u2019s executive order simply directs that all federal agencies \u201ccut off any and all funding\u201d to NPR, which is based in Washington, and PBS, based in Arlington, Virginia.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Federal Defendants fail to cite a single case in which a court has ever upheld a statute or executive action that bars a particular person or entity from participating in any federally funded activity based on that person or entity\u2019s past speech,\u201d the judge wrote.<\/p>\n
Last year, Trump, a Republican, said at a news conference he would \u201clove to\u201d defund NPR and PBS because he believes they\u2019re biased in favor of Democrats.<\/p>\n
NPR accused the Corporation for Public Broadcasting of violating its First Amendment free speech rights when it moved to cut off its access to grant money appropriated by Congress. NPR also claims Trump wants to punish it for the content of its journalism.<\/p>\n
Last August, CPB announced it would take steps toward closing itself down after being defunded by Congress.<\/p>\n
Plaintiffs\u2019 attorney Theodore Boutrous said Tuesday\u2019s ruling is \u201ca victory for the First Amendment and for freedom of the press.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAs the Court expressly recognized, the First Amendment draws a line, which the government may not cross, at efforts to use government power \u2014 including the power of the purse \u2014 \u2018to punish or suppress disfavored expression\u2019 by others,\u201d Boutrous said in a statement. \u201cThe Executive Order crossed that line.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n