WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss permanently blocked President Trump's executive order directing federal agencies to cease all funding for NPR and PBS. Judge Moss ruled that the order is unlawful and unenforceable.

The executive order directs all federal agencies to cut off any and all funding to NPR and PBS. NPR and three public radio stations filed lawsuits against administration officials in late May challenging the executive order.

In his decision, Judge Moss rejected the Justice Department's arguments and wrote that the executive order crosses a First Amendment line that bars the government from using its power, including the power of the purse, to punish speech it dislikes, according to court filings.

Judge Moss wrote that the executive order does not define or regulate the content of government speech or ensure compliance with a federal program, nor does it set neutral criteria for grant applicants; instead, it singles out NPR and PBS and bars them from all federally funded programs based on their past speech, according to court filings.

The judge added that the executive order sweeps beyond the Corporation for Public Broadcasting by directing all federal agencies to refrain from funding NPR and PBS regardless of the nature of their programs or the merits of their applications, according to court filings.

The National Endowment for the Arts, FEMA and the Department of Education canceled grants awarded to PBS and NPR following the executive order. The judge noted that federal defendants failed to cite any case upholding a statute or executive action that bars a person or entity from participating in any federally funded activity based on past speech.

"Public media exists to serve the public interest – that of Americans – not that of any political agenda or elected official," said Katherine Maher, President and CEO of NPR.

"The First Amendment draws a line that the government may not cross at efforts to use government power, including the power of the purse, to punish or suppress disfavored expression," said Theodore Boutrous, an attorney representing the plaintiffs.

Abigail Jackson, a White House spokesperson, said the ruling was invalid and attempted to undermine the law. Jackson said NPR and PBS have no right to receive taxpayer funds and that Congress had already voted to defund them, and that the Trump administration looked forward to ultimate victory on the issue.

Last year, Congress passed and President Trump signed into law a legislative package that clawed back about $1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. Last August, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting announced it would begin winding down its operations after being defunded by Congress.