National Public Radio and Colorado public radio stations have brought a lawsuit against the Trump administration for a May 1 executive order seeking to cut off Congressional funding for the non-profit broadcaster.

The May 27 legal action filed in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia argues Trumps executive order violates the expressed will of Congress and the First Amendments bedrock guarantees of freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and freedom of association, and also threatens the existence of a public radio system that millions of Americans across the country rely on for vital news and information. The executive order against cuts to public subsidies for PBS and NPR argued the publicly-funded broadcaster is not only outdated and unnecessary but corrosive to the appearance of journalistic independence.

But NPR, which receives taxpayer funds through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, in its action countered the Trump order was less about biased journalism than an attempt to thwart free speech by hitting back at critics.

The order is textbook retaliation and viewpoint-based discrimination in violation of the First Amendment, and it interferes with NPRs and the local member stations freedom of expressive association and editorial discretion, the lawsuit states.

Besides U.S. President Trump, other defendants named in the action include Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and the Office of Management and Budget. The May 1 executive order has been seen by critics as the latest move by the Trump White House to use federal funds or powers to thwart critics of the White House, including media giants, universities and law firms.

Without a legal settlement, Paramount Global faces a threat to completing a takeover by Skydance from an ongoing Trump lawsuit against its CBS News unit in a federal court in Texas. The Trump administration has also movedto dismantle the Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty as those media outlets also receive funds from Congress.

PBS was not named as part of the lawsuit brought Tuesday by NPR, but is eyeing a possible legal action of its own. A PBS spokesperson told The Hollywood Reporter in a statement: PBS isconsideringevery option, including taking legal action, to allow our organization to continue to provide essential programming and services to member stations and all Americans.