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4w ago

Trump Administration's Media Cuts Leave Global Broadcasters Silent

The defunding of USAGM has halted operations at outlets like VOA and RFE/RL, sparking legal challenges and raising concerns over journalist safety and U.S. soft power.

U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks in the White House on March 20, 2025 in Washington, DC.
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Russian-born writer and broadcaster Victor Franzusoff (1911 - 1996) broadcasts to The Soviet Union from the Voice Of America studios in New York, 12th March 1948.
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Overview

  • President Trump signed an executive order on March 14, 2025, defunding the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), effectively shutting down Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL).
  • Over 1,300 employees have been placed on administrative leave, with many foreign journalists now facing visa issues and potential deportation to authoritarian countries where they risk imprisonment or worse.
  • Critics warn the closures undermine U.S. commitments to press freedom and democracy, while creating a vacuum for authoritarian propaganda from Russia, China, and others to expand.
  • Lawsuits filed on March 23, 2025, claim the shutdown violates constitutional protections and endangers journalists' lives, with plaintiffs seeking temporary relief to restore operations.
  • Authoritarian governments, including Russia and China, have celebrated the move as a victory for their state-controlled media, while U.S. lawmakers and global observers label it a strategic mistake weakening U.S. influence.