Steve Lodge, whose father Robert Lodge was a correspondent at VOA, protests in front of the organization’s headquarters in Washington DC. Chinese state media has applauded Donald Trump’s decision to reduce public funding for news outlets Voice of America and Radio Free Asia, known for reporting on authoritarian regimes. This move has impacted thousands of employees, with 1,300 staff at Voice Of America (VOA) being placed on paid leave following the executive order. Critics view this as a setback for democracy, while Beijing’s state newspaper Global Times criticized VOA for its reporting on China, calling it an „appalling track record.“ The White House defended the decision, stating it will stop taxpayers from funding what they consider to be radical propaganda.
Trump’s cuts target the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which funds affected news outlets such as VOA, Radio Free Asia (RFA), and Radio Free Europe. These outlets have received praise for their reporting in countries with limited press freedom, including China, Cambodia, Russia, and North Korea. While some countries block their broadcasts, people can still access them through methods like shortwave radio or VPNs. RFA has reported on human rights violations in Cambodia and China’s detention centers in Xinjiang, among other important stories.
Former US President Bill Clinton granted an exclusive interview to RFA in 1998, and VOA has been recognized for its podcast on rare protests in China. However, China’s Global Times welcomed the funding cuts, calling VOA a „lie factory.“ Journalists like Valdya Baraputri, who lost her job at VOA, expressed concerns that eliminating VOA would allow biased reporting to thrive. The National Press Club criticized the decision, stating it undermines America’s commitment to a free and independent press.
Founded during World War Two to counter Nazi propaganda, VOA reaches millions of people globally in various languages. VOA’s director Michael Abramowitz criticized the order, highlighting that adversaries like Iran, China, and Russia are investing heavily in spreading false narratives about the US. The recent cuts have left journalists feeling betrayed and concerned for their safety, especially in hostile home countries. RFA chief executive Bay Fang plans to challenge the order, stating it benefits dictators and despots rather than promoting press freedom.
The Czech Republic has sought EU intervention to support Radio Free Europe, which broadcasts in numerous languages to millions of people weekly. RFA, established in 1996, reaches millions in countries like China, Myanmar, North Korea, and Cambodia. While Chinese state media celebrates the funding cuts, the impact on Chinese citizens‘ opinions is unclear due to heavy internet censorship. People who have relied on VOA and RFA for news over the years are disappointed and worried about the future. „Schauend zurück in der Geschichte, haben unzählige Exilanten, Rebellen, Intellektuelle und gewöhnliche Menschen im Dunkeln ausgeharrt wegen der Stimmen von VOA und RFA, und haben Hoffnung in der Angst gesehen wegen ihrer Berichte,“ Du Wen, ein chinesischer Dissident, der in Belgien lebt, schrieb auf X. „Wenn die freie Welt wählt, schweigen zu bleiben, dann wird die Stimme des Diktators der einzige Widerhall in der Welt.“