This Senate resolution condemns recent attacks on the free press by President Donald J. Trump and restates the Senate's support for press freedom. The text lists specific actions by the President that it says harmed or threatened independent journalism, including public accusations against news outlets, excluding a news organization from White House press access, legal actions against a network, efforts to cut funding for public broadcasters, restrictions on journalist questioning, attempts to influence news organizations, and rescinding a Justice Department policy limiting subpoenas of journalists. The resolution also raises concerns about cuts to the United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM) and says 11 USAGM journalists are imprisoned abroad. It ends with five formal Senate statements: to condemn the attacks, reaffirm the importance of a free press, urge the executive branch to respect journalists' rights, call for efforts to free the 11 imprisoned USAGM journalists, and express solidarity with threatened journalists.
If passed by the Senate, this measure would be an official Senate statement condemning the named actions and declaring Senate support for press freedom. It urges the executive branch to allow journalists to do their work without fear and calls for efforts to secure the release of 11 USAGM journalists held abroad. The measure has been introduced and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary and is listed as in progress.
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Supporters say a free and independent press is essential for democracy, government accountability, and an informed public. They argue the listed presidential actions undermine press freedom, threaten First Amendment protections, weaken USAGM broadcasting efforts abroad, and could put reporters at risk in authoritarian countries. Proponents say the Senate should reaffirm its commitment to protecting journalists and press institutions.
No publicly available information.