Washington – National Public Radio and three local stations filed a lawsuit on Tuesday against President Donald Trump, arguing that an executive order aimed at cutting federal funds for the organization is illegal.
The lawsuit, filed in a federal court in Washington by NPR, Colorado Public Radio, Aspen Public Radio and Kute, Inc. argues that Trump’s executive order to reduce public subsidies to PBS and NPR violates the first amendment.
Trump issued the executive order earlier this month that instructs the Corporation for Public Transmission and other federal agencies “to cease federal funds for NPR and PBS” and requires working to eliminate indirect sources of public financing for news organizations. Trump issued the order after claiming that there is a “bias” in the reports of the broadcasters.
“The objectives of the Order could not be clearer: the order aims to punish NPR for the news content and other programs that the president does not like and cools the free exercise of the rights of the first amendment by NPR and individual public radio stations throughout the country,” says the demand.
“The order is retaliation of textbooks and discrimination based on the point of view in violation of the first amendment, and interferes with the freedom of expressive association and discretion of the expressive association of local member stations and local member stations,” he said.
