Trump cuts funding to VOA, Radio Free Europe

English , International - بین الاقوامی , Snippets , / Sunday, March 16th, 2025

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The Trump administration has placed Voice of America (VOA) employees on administrative leave and slashed funding to US government-funded broadcasters, including Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Radio Free Asia, which target audiences in Russia, China, and North Korea.
VOA employees received an internal email on Saturday instructing them to refrain from entering offices or accessing internal systems until further notice. Meanwhile, the funding cuts to the outlets, which provide independent news to conflict zones and authoritarian states, follow President Donald Trump’s executive order to significantly reduce the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees these broadcasters. The agency is led by Trump ally Kari Lake, who confirmed the cuts, urging employees to check their emails for further instructions.
It remains unclear how many employees have been affected, but international watchdog Reporters Without Borders condemned the move, calling it “a departure from the US’ historic role as a defender of free information.” The organization urged US lawmakers and the global community to take action.
Trump has long criticized US media, accusing them of bias and calling CNN and MSNBC “political arms of the Democrat party.” He has previously clashed with VOA, forcing two directors to resign in 2020 over coverage related to China. The White House accused VOA of amplifying Beijing’s propaganda.
The latest cuts align with Trump’s broader push to shrink federal agencies, but critics argue they undermine independent journalism and America’s global influence.