In a stunning move, the Trump administration has frozen operations at major US-funded international broadcasters, including Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Asia, and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
Over the weekend, hundreds of journalists and staff at these outlets were notified via email that they would be barred from their offices and required to surrender press credentials, work phones, and other equipment.
This decision follows an executive order by former President Donald Trump, who declared the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM) — the parent organization of these broadcasters — as “unnecessary” to federal operations.
The move has sparked outrage among media experts and international observers, with critics warning that shutting down these platforms is a major win for authoritarian regimes like China, Russia, and Iran.
Stephen Capus, president of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, which has countered Russian propaganda since the Cold War, called the defunding of these outlets “a massive gift to America’s enemies.”
“This decision weakens America while strengthening autocratic regimes in Moscow, Beijing, and Tehran,” Capus stated.
Voice of America and its sister stations have played a critical role in delivering uncensored news to countries with restricted press freedom, including China, North Korea, and Myanmar.
The shutdown marks a dramatic shift in US global media strategy, as Trump and his allies have long argued that these broadcasters should align with his administration’s messaging rather than operate independently.
With global implications at stake, critics say this decision could silence vital reporting in regions where truth is already under siege.
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