讀後心得

The funding for Radio Free Europe has been frozen, affecting its satellite broadcasts to Russia. Although the station obtained a temporary injunction, the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) has still not released the funds, leading to a suspension of its program "Current Time." Radio Free Europe’s director, Kaps, stated that Russian viewers can only see notices of the suspension and indicated that this decision stems from USAGM rather than the Russian government. Due to the lack of the $77 million in operating funds, the station has placed several employees on unpaid leave and criticized the Trump administration for wanting it to shut down.

Amid a series of federal agency cuts by President Trump, funding for Radio Free Europe has been frozen. Although Radio Free Europe obtained a temporary restraining order from the courts, the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which regulates the station's operations, has not released the frozen funds. The director of Radio Free Europe stated to the media, "When we came to work today, we found that USAGM had shut down the satellite service covering Russia." This decision affected the round-the-clock broadcasting of the Russian-language channel "Current Time," which covers Russia, Ukraine, Central Asia, Eastern Europe, and other regions.

The director pointed out that the U.S. Agency for Global Media informed them that the satellite contract responsible for transmitting the "Current Time" program to Europe had been terminated. USAGM did not respond to media requests for comments. The director stated that Russian viewers are now seeing a red television screen that reads: "We regret to inform you that the U.S. Agency for Global Media has decided to terminate the broadcast of 'Current Time.'

Radio Free Europe is headquartered in Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, and was established during the Cold War to counter Soviet propaganda. The station employs approximately 1,700 staff and broadcasts in 27 languages to 23 countries, including Russia, Belarus, Iran, and China. In 1995, following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Radio Free Europe moved from Munich to Prague.

The director stated that Radio Free Europe still has other ways to provide information to Russian audiences, "but the interruption of satellite service is not an action taken by the Russian government. This is an order issued by USAGM." On Tuesday, due to not receiving $77 million in operational funding allocated by USAGM, Radio Free Europe put many employees on reduced pay leave. The director remarked, "I believe it is clear that the Trump administration wants us to shut down. I think that is very obvious."

• Funding for Radio Free Europe has been frozen
• The U.S. Agency for Global Media has not released frozen funds
• Termination of satellite service has affected the broadcasting of the Russian-language channel
• Employing approximately 1,700 staff, covering 23 countries
• Radio Free Europe has been headquartered in Prague since 1995