Trump’s Shutdown of U.S.-Funded Broadcasters Puts Journalists at Risk

March 18, 2025 – USA – 

In March 2025, President Donald Trump issued an executive order dismantling the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), effectively defunding key outlets such as Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), and Radio Free Asia (RFA). This abrupt action has left hundreds of journalists, many of whom have risked their lives reporting from authoritarian regimes, without institutional support, exposing them to potential retaliation from hostile governments.

The James W. Foley Legacy Foundation highlights the dire consequences of this move, noting that journalists affiliated with USAGM are now vulnerable to persecution, imprisonment, or worse, in their home countries. These reporters have long been targets for their commitment to independent journalism, and the sudden loss of U.S. backing exacerbates their precarious situations.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has also raised alarms, emphasizing that at least nine USAGM-affiliated journalists are currently detained abroad. The organization’s call to action urges the international community to intervene and protect these individuals, whose safety is now in jeopardy due to the U.S. government’s withdrawal of support.

The shutdown not only undermines the United States’ longstanding commitment to press freedom but also sends a troubling message to authoritarian regimes worldwide. By abandoning these journalists, the U.S. risks eroding its moral authority and emboldening oppressive governments to further suppress independent media.

Advocacy groups are calling on Congress to take immediate steps to safeguard the affected journalists. Proposed measures include expedited asylum processes, legal protections, and the reinstatement of funding to ensure the continuity of independent reporting in regions where the free press is under threat.

The dismantling of USAGM represents a significant setback for global press freedom and endangers the lives of journalists who have dedicated themselves to truthful reporting. It is imperative that the U.S. government reconsiders its stance and takes action to uphold the principles of free and independent media.

Reference – 

Journalists Who Took Risks for US-Funded Broadcasters Threatened Anew by Trump Shutdown

Journalists Who Took Risks for US-Funded Broadcasters Threatened Anew by Trump Shutdown