President Donald Trump’s administration has ordered a sudden freeze on funding for several key U.S.-funded media outlets, including Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Asia, and Radio Free Europe, placing journalists on leave and halting decades of work critical to countering foreign information campaigns.
On Saturday, staff from these outlets received emails informing them that they would be barred from their offices, instructed to return press passes and equipment. The decision follows an executive order issued by Trump on Friday, which identified the U.S. Agency for Global Media as an unnecessary part of the federal bureaucracy.
Kari Lake, a staunch Trump ally and former Arizona news anchor, was appointed to lead the agency after an unsuccessful Senate bid. She communicated the news to employees, stating that federal funding no longer aligns with the agency’s priorities. White House press official Harrison Fields took a more pointed approach, posting a “goodbye” message on X in 20 different languages, a swipe at the outlets’ multilingual services.
Michael Abramowitz, VOA’s director, shared on Facebook that he was among the 1,300 staff members placed on leave, expressing concern over the potential damage to the outlet’s mission. “VOA has been an invaluable asset in the global fight for freedom and democracy,” Abramowitz said, highlighting that the network reaches 360 million people each week in 48 languages.
Stephen Capus, President of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, condemned the move as a “gift to America’s enemies,” noting that Russia, China, and Iran would benefit from the loss of the outlet, which has been a crucial voice for freedom since its Cold War origins.
Reporters Without Borders condemned the decision, arguing that it undermines press freedom and erases 80 years of U.S. history in promoting the free flow of information worldwide. The group emphasized the detrimental impact on global counter-propaganda efforts.
Democratic leaders, including Gregory Meeks and Lois Frankel, also criticized the move, warning that it would inflict long-term harm to U.S. efforts to combat foreign disinformation.
For years, these U.S.-funded broadcasters have shifted their focus from post-Cold War programming in Central and Eastern Europe to countering China’s growing media influence and providing independent reporting in regions with restricted press freedoms. Radio Free Asia, for example, has operated since 1996 to provide uncensored news to countries like China, North Korea, and Myanmar.
The outlets have maintained editorial independence, despite government funding, a policy that has drawn criticism from Trump and his supporters, who argue that such media should promote government policies. The decision is expected to face opposition in Congress, where past bipartisan support for these media outlets has been strong.
A VOA employee, speaking on condition of anonymity, described the situation as a source of “constant anxiety,” as staff were left in the dark about their futures. A Radio Free Asia employee expressed fear for both personal safety and the potential loss of legal status for staff working under precarious conditions in authoritarian countries.
“This is a devastating blow,” the employee said. “Wiping us out with the stroke of a pen is a catastrophe.”