Trump freezes funding for Voice of America, Radio Free Asia and Radio Free Europe
US President Donald Trump speaks to the press before boarding Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on March 14, 2025 (AFP Photo)
U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration placed journalists at U.S.-funded broadcasters Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Asia and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty on administrative leave on Saturday, effectively freezing the operations of news outlets long regarded as key in countering Russian and Chinese state media narratives.
The decision follows an executive order signed by Trump on Friday, listing the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees these broadcasters, as part of what the White House described as “unnecessary” elements of the federal government.
Journalists placed on leave, funding terminated
Hundreds of reporters and staff members received an email over the weekend informing them that they were barred from accessing their offices and were required to surrender press passes, office-issued phones, and other equipment.
VOA Director Michael Abramowitz expressed disappointment over the decision, stating, “I am deeply saddened that for the first time in 83 years, the storied Voice of America is being silenced.” He emphasized the network’s role in “the fight for freedom and democracy around the world.”
USAGM also confirmed that it had terminated grants for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Radio Free Asia, which have historically provided uncensored news to audiences in countries with restricted press freedom, such as China, North Korea, and Russia.
Criticism from free press advocates and international figures
The move drew swift criticism from press freedom organizations. The president of the National Press Club, Mike Balsamo, stated that the cuts “undermined America’s commitment to a free and independent press.”
Reporters Without Borders also condemned the decision, warning that it “threatens press freedom worldwide and negates 80 years of American history in supporting a free flow of information.”
Stephen Capus, president of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, described the funding cuts as “a massive gift to America’s enemies.” He added, “The Iranian ayatollahs, Chinese communist leaders, and autocrats in Moscow and Minsk would celebrate the demise of RFE/RL after 75 years.”
Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky also voiced concern, writing on X: “From Belarus to Iran, from Russia to Afghanistan, RFE and Voice of America are among the few free sources for people living without freedom.”
When Radio Free Europe first began broadcasting, it was a beacon for those whom totalitarianism had deprived of the truth. Peroutka, Tigrid, and other exiles fought censorship and lies with words. Today, the situation is no different.
From Belarus to Iran, from Russia to Afghanistan, RFE and Voice of America remain among the few free sources of information for those living in oppression. Silencing them would not just be a loss for them, but for all of us who believe in democracy.
Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky
Trump administration’s rationale for cuts
Trump has previously criticized U.S.-funded media outlets, arguing they should align more closely with his administration’s policies.
Kari Lake, a pro-Trump figure and former news anchor who was appointed to oversee USAGM, defended the cuts, calling the agency “a giant rot and burden to the American taxpayer.”
In an internal email, Lake wrote that “federal grant money no longer effectuates agency priorities.” She also stated that she would shrink USAGM “to the minimum possible size under the law.”
White House press official Harrison Fields appeared to mock the decision on X, posting “goodbye” in 20 languages—a reference to VOA’s multilingual coverage.
Impact on global media and US foreign policy
VOA, founded in 1942 to counter Nazi propaganda, now reaches an estimated 360 million people weekly across nearly 50 languages. As a whole, USAGM employs approximately 3,500 people and had a budget of $886 million in 2024.
The move to shut down funding comes amid increasing tensions with Russia and China.
VOA’s Seoul Bureau Chief William Gallo said he had been locked out of all company systems and accounts, stating on Bluesky, “All I’ve ever wanted to do is shoot straight and tell the truth, no matter what government I was covering. If that’s a threat to anyone, so be it.”
Radio Free Asia’s president, Bay Fang, warned that the decision was “a reward to dictators and despots, including the Chinese Communist Party, who would like nothing better than to have their influence go unchecked.”
Trump’s order also instructed USAGM and six other federal agencies—including the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and the Minority Business Development Agency—to scale back operations to the bare minimum allowed by law.
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