Trump cuts funding to Radio Free Asia and global independent broadcasters, raising concerns over press freedom

The Trump administration has moved to freeze funding for several US-funded international broadcasters, placing hundreds of journalists on administrative leave and raising concerns about the future of independent media, particularly in Asia. The decision, reported by multiple media outlets, is part of a broader government cost-cutting effort, and affects organisations including Radio Free Asia (RFA), Voice of America (VOA), and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), all of which have played significant roles in countering censorship and disinformation in regions with restricted press freedom.

Radio Free Asia, headquartered in Washington, DC, was established in 1996 as a private, nonprofit corporation funded by the US government. RFA provides news to audiences in China, North Korea, Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos—countries where press freedom is heavily restricted. The organisation broadcasts in multiple Asian languages, delivering independent reporting on human rights abuses, government corruption, and social issues that are often censored by state-controlled media.

According to reports on its site, RFA may be preparing to lay off most of its US-based staff due to the funding suspension. The cuts particularly impact journalists and analysts who provide crucial insight into political and military developments in Asia. While some overseas operations are expected to continue, the organisation's ability to deliver its usual breadth of coverage is now in question. RFA president Bay Fang has warned that the loss of funding could severely hinder the broadcaster’s ability to provide independent news to millions.

According to Politico, Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has imposed a 30-day funding freeze on Radio Free Asia (RFA) and other US Agency for Global Media (USAGM) outlets, potentially leading to a permanent cut in government support. RFA has raised concerns over its finances with USAGM but has not received a response, while DOGE declined to comment.

If RFA shuts down, it would remove a key source of analysis on political and military developments in Asia, particularly in China and North Korea, said Michael Sobolik of the Hudson Institute to Politico. “RFA reporting from countries like China has been great for our foreign policy leaders and elected officials,” he said, adding that such insight “serves the American interest.”

Politico also reported that USAGM special adviser Kari Lake cancelled $53 million in contracts for wire service content from the Associated Press, Reuters, and Agence France-Presse, calling them “expensive and unnecessary.” An anonymous RFA adviser warned the cuts would disrupt reporting, saying, “If you’re a reporter in Phnom Penh, Jakarta, or Taiwan, you need the wires just to find out what happened overnight.”

The funding freeze also affects Voice of America, which was founded in 1942 and has since expanded into one of the world’s largest international broadcasters, reaching nearly 50 languages. The budget cuts have led to nearly all of VOA’s 1,300 staff being placed on administrative leave, effectively pausing its operations. Michael Abramowitz, the director of VOA, described the move as unprecedented, stating that "for the first time in 83 years, the storied Voice of America is being silenced." Similarly, RFE/RL, which has operated in Eastern Europe and Central Asia since the Cold War, now faces severe uncertainty about its future.

The move has sparked criticism from press freedom advocates and policymakers, who argue that it weakens US influence and benefits authoritarian regimes. US Representative Ami Bera warned via an X post that the move would be detrimental to Washington’s ability to counter China’s state-backed narratives. "Radio Free Asia plays a vital role in countering Beijing’s influence by providing accurate and uncensored news to audiences facing relentless propaganda," he said, drawing parallels to the role of RFE/RL during the Cold War.

Radio Free Asia plays a vital role in countering China's influence by providing accurate and uncensored news to audiences facing relentless propaganda from the People's Republic of China.

Just as Radio Free Europe successfully countered Soviet disinformation during the Cold… https://t.co/9PNN5jlFkA

— Ami Bera, M.D. (@RepBera) March 15, 2025

The reduction in funding also raises concerns about the broader implications for US global media outreach in Asia, where independent journalism is already under pressure. Without these broadcasters, state-controlled media in countries such as China and North Korea could become even more dominant, limiting access to alternative perspectives.

Reporters Without Borders has condemned the decision, calling it a setback for press freedom and urging lawmakers to reconsider the cuts. The impact of the funding freeze remains uncertain, but for now, journalists and audiences relying on these broadcasters face an increasingly uncertain future.