In a stunning and abrupt move, the Trump administration has suspended operations at multiple US-funded international news organizations, including Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Asia, and Radio Free Europe. The decision, executed through an executive order, has left hundreds of journalists without jobs and raised serious concerns about press freedom and US global influence.
On Saturday, employees at these organizations received an email informing them they were being placed on immediate leave. Staffers were instructed to surrender their press credentials and return office-issued equipment, effectively barring them from their workplaces. Among those affected was Michael Abramowitz, the director of VOA, who confirmed that 1,300 employees had been put on leave.
The order to dismantle the US Agency for Global Media, which oversees these outlets, was issued on Friday. Trump justified the decision by branding the agency as an unnecessary government expense. His move follows previous deep cuts to federal institutions, including the US global aid agency and the Department of Education.
Kari Lake, a close Trump ally and former Arizona gubernatorial candidate, was placed in charge of the media agency after her failed Senate bid. In a message to employees, she stated that federal grant funding was being discontinued because it “no longer aligns with agency priorities.”
The White House doubled down on the decision, claiming it would prevent taxpayer money from funding what it called “radical propaganda.” The administration’s stance marks a significant departure from the original mission of these networks, which were established to counter authoritarian narratives and extend US influence abroad.
White House press official Harrison Fields mocked the closures by posting the word “goodbye” in 20 languages on social media.
The impact of the shutdown has been immediate and widespread. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, which has been broadcasting into Russia and Eastern Europe since the Cold War, called the move “a massive gift to America’s adversaries.” Its president, Stephen Capus, warned that authoritarian regimes, including those in Iran, China, and Russia, would celebrate the agency’s demise.
Radio Free Asia, which has long operated as a critical voice against censorship in China, Myanmar, North Korea, and Vietnam, now faces an uncertain future. The organization’s employees expressed deep concern, not just for their livelihoods but for their personal safety. Many reporters operate in authoritarian regions, where their work exposes them to significant risks. Even staff based in the US fear deportation if their work visas are invalidated by the sudden halt in funding.
Critics from both sides of the political spectrum have condemned the decision. Advocacy groups like Reporters Without Borders warned that the shutdown undermines press freedom worldwide and reverses decades of American efforts to support independent journalism. Lawmakers, including senior Democrats Gregory Meeks and Lois Frankel, called it a reckless move that weakens the US ability to combat misinformation and state-controlled media narratives abroad.
Despite Trump’s sweeping order, the fate of these organizations remains uncertain. The power to allocate government funds ultimately rests with Congress, not the president. Radio Free Asia, in particular, has long enjoyed bipartisan support, setting the stage for a possible legal and legislative battle over the administration’s decision.
For now, however, the abrupt shutdown has left a void in international journalism, raising concerns that authoritarian governments will exploit the absence of these critical news sources to tighten their grip on information and suppress dissenting voices.