Overview

• The Trump administration has suspended operations of U.S.-funded broadcasters like Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Asia, and Radio Free Europe, affecting over 2,000 employees globally.
• Employees were informed via email that they are barred from accessing offices and must return press credentials and equipment immediately.
• The move follows a presidential decree labeling the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees these outlets, as an 'unnecessary' part of the federal bureaucracy.
• Critics, including Reporters Without Borders and the Committee to Protect Journalists, warn the decision undermines press freedom and weakens U.S. influence in authoritarian regions.
• The closures could face legal challenges, as the U.S. Congress, which has historically supported these media outlets, holds final authority over their funding.