The administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump suspended the operations of journalists working for Voice of America (VOA) and other government-funded media outlets on Saturday.
This move effectively halted the work of media organizations that had been considered essential in countering Russian and Chinese propaganda.
Hundreds of reporters and employees at VOA, Radio Free Asia, and Radio Free Europe received emails notifying them that they were barred from entering their offices and were required to return their press credentials, work phones, and other equipment.
The decision followed an executive order issued by Trump on Friday, which classified the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) as “an unnecessary bureaucratic entity” within the federal government, according to the White House. The administration justified the move by stating that it aimed to “reduce taxpayer burdens and prevent the funding of extremist propaganda.”
Kari Lake, a former news anchor and Trump supporter who was appointed as an advisor to USAGM, sent an internal email to affiliated media organizations, stating that “federal grant funds no longer align with the agency’s priorities.”
Meanwhile, Harrison Fields, a White House press official, posted the word “Goodbye” in twenty languages on the social media platform X, mocking VOA’s multilingual coverage.
The shutdown drew sharp criticism from Stephen Capus, president of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), an outlet originally established to counter Soviet propaganda during the Cold War. He condemned the decision, calling it a “major gift to America’s adversaries.” He added, “The leaders in Moscow, Minsk, Beijing, and Tehran will celebrate the end of our broadcasts after 75 years of service,” warning that the decision “weakens America’s position on the global stage.”
Similarly, Radio Free Asia, founded in 1996 to provide independent news coverage in countries lacking press freedom—such as China, Burma, North Korea, and Vietnam—expressed deep concern over the move.
Despite receiving funding from the U.S. government, these media outlets had long maintained editorial independence through a “firewall” designed to prevent direct government interference in their content. However, Trump, during his presidency, repeatedly argued that “government-funded media should promote his policies.” This stance, coupled with his dissatisfaction with their editorial independence, ultimately led to their defunding and closure.
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