Gibson Dunn Achieves Major Victory for Client NPR in First Amendment Case Against U.S. Government

Firm News  |  March 31, 2026

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A team of Gibson Dunn lawyers has achieved a major win in a First Amendment case against the U.S. government, successfully obtaining a permanent injunction from the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia for our client NPR against enforcement of a Trump administration Executive Order that targeted NPR for its protected speech.

“Today’s ruling is a significant victory for the First Amendment and for freedom of the press,” said Gibson Dunn partner Theodore Boutrous, who represented NPR. “The district court’s decision bars the government from enforcing its unconstitutional Executive Order targeting NPR and PBS because the President dislikes their news reporting and other programming.  As the court expressly recognized, the First Amendment draws a line, which the government may not cross, at efforts to use government power—including the power of the purse—‘to punish or suppress disfavored expression’ by others. The Executive Order crossed that line.”

In addition to Ted, our winning team includes partners Miguel Estrada, Katie Townsend, and Michael Dore; of counsel Sophia Brill; and associates Eric Brooks, Connor Mui, Tate Rosenblatt, and Ellie Schwietering.