Following US President Donald Trump’s announcement of reductions to Voice of America (VOA) and its affiliated networks last Friday, government-controlled media channels in authoritarian nations such as China and Russia promptly expressed their delight.
The Global Times, a publication under China’s governing Communist Party, celebrated the closure of VOA, referring to it as a "factory of lies" that was "cast aside by its own administration like a soiled cloth."
The response in Russia was equally exuberant, with Margarita Simonyan, the head of the government-supported RT channel, encapsulating the sentiment among Kremlin loyalists.
“Unfortunately, we couldn’t close them down, but America did so on its own,” she stated.
Ever since they were established in the 1940s and 1950s with funding from the United States, organizations like the Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) have been regarded by Western nations as symbols of global freedom of the press.
Transmitted into nations where independent journalism can be difficult to access, these networks have provided news to over tens of millions individuals annually, in scores of local languages.
However, Trump’s recently issued executive order, intended to prevent American taxpayers from financing what he referred to as "radical propaganda," has cast uncertainty over the future of such reporting.
Over the weekend, more than 1,300 individuals were placed on administrative leave at VOA, whereas RFE/RL had its grant agreement revoked, placing it in a financially uncertain position.
The budget reductions impacted every entity within the United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM) umbrella, encompassing both Radio and TV Mart×focused on reporting about Cuba—and Radio Free Asia.
Similar to the cuts made to the country’s foreign aid and development agency, USAID, some view the Trump administration’s assault on USAGM networks as a form of self-inflicted damage that could weaken America’s influence abroad through soft power.
Alsu Kurmasheva, a Russian-American journalist employed by RFE/RL’s Tatar-Bashkir service, echoes this sentiment.
"This is akin to scoring an own goal in soccer – it troubles me that we're essentially giving a present to authoritarian regimes. RFE/RL has consistently held significant importance for U.S. interests," Kurmasheva stated to Euronews.
"We can see the Kremlin rejoicing; we witnessed their joy broadcasted through government-controlled media outlets. These gains primarily benefit authoritarian leaders who aim to prevent their people from accessing unbiased news and information. For them, staying in power relies on maintaining ignorance among the populace," she noted.
Kurmasheva, who spent nine months in detention in Russia from 2023 to 2024 due to her journalism, highlighted that one of RFE/RL's strongest assets is the trust it has cultivated among its audience throughout its 75-year history.
They depended on us for updates on incidents like Chernobyl, the collapse of the Berlin Wall, and significant occurrences at home and abroad. They understand that we handle news seriously without playing around.
Since last Friday, hundreds of messages and calls have been received from worried viewers, according to Kurmasheva. These came from individuals residing in oppressive environments in countries like Afghanistan, Bulgaria, and Russia.
Liam Scott, a VOA journalist specializing in press freedom, learned on Sunday that his contract would conclude at the end of March, similar to approximately 500 others. He shares concerns over the implications of Trump’s executive order.
I believe it's significant that government-controlled media outlets such as those in Russia and China have been warmly endorsing this development," Scott explained to Euronews. "They do so because organizations like VOA, RFE, and Radio Free Asia excel at providing well-rounded reporting.
"I am worried about what the possible end of VOA and its related channels might imply for our viewers' ability to obtain unbiased information in areas where such news is difficult to find," he stated.
Americans may not be its intended audience, but they are still key stakeholders in its work, said Scott. “Because VOA is a really key component of the US' soft power. We model what a free press looks like to the rest of the world,” he explained.
Gypsy Guillén Kaiser, who serves as the Chief Global Affairs Officer at the Committee for the Protection of Journalists (CPJ), a nonprofit organization advocating for press freedom, stated that Trump’s reductions could lead to significant consequences for the millions of individuals served by USAGM networks.
In the tightly controlled media environments such as those found in Myanmar, where conflict has persisted following the military takeover in 2021, withdrawing precise, unfiltered news could create a perilous void, according to Guillén Kaiser.
She warned that this creates a vacuum which ultimately caters to the interests of those who propagate misinformation and disinformation, all while leaving journalists exposed.
According to Reporters Without Borders, ten individuals employed by USAGM organizations are presently incarcerated in Azerbaijan, Belarus, Myanmar, Russia, and Vietnam. They, alongside the CPJ and other groups, urge the Trump administration to overturn its decision.
"What we are requesting at present is for Congress to restore the funding, as it is legally required and should not be subject to political manipulation," Guillén Kaiser stated.
On Tuesday, RFE/RL filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration due to the withholding of funds designated for the broadcaster by Congress.
In Europe, countries like the Czech Republic, which houses RFE/RL’s main offices, have suggested they might contribute funds to support the organization.
To defend his administration’s stance toward the USAGM’s media platforms, Trump and his supporters argue not only that VOA, RFE/RL, along with affiliated networks, exhibit bias against the Republican Party, but also assert that these organizations' coverage aids America’s adversaries.
Kari Lake, an associate of Trump who is now functioning as a senior advisor to the USAGM, recently criticized the agency’s news organizations for generating "content that frequently echoes the key messages of America’s opponents."
According to Thomas Kent, who previously served as the president and CEO of RFE/RL, this perspective is difficult to reconcile with actual events.
A careful examination of the activities of these agencies would swiftly demonstrate that we undoubtedly present the American perspective," he stated. "Rivals such as Russia and China must believe we are quite biased towards America since they go to great lengths to obstruct our operations.
"If these shutdowns proceed, the U.S. will be voluntarily giving up some of its strongest means for engaging with foreign communities," he emphasized.
Kent acknowledges that there is room for enhancement.
"If enhancing USAGM were your aim, you'd first need to make a choice— one that external observers have long debated," he stated, highlighting the conflict between viewing its services as unbiased journalism versus a means for U.S. governmental communication.
Kent mentioned that other aspects might also be evaluated, such as combining the reports from Radio and TV Martà concerning Cuba with the broader Latin American coverage provided by VOA.
These are the kinds of issues that the administration might genuinely address with the aim of improving efficiency and reducing wasteful spending, among other things," he stated. "However, such progress isn’t achieved through total shutdowns or mass firings.
Kent highlighted that one significant advantage of RFE/RL is that their news content reportedly reaches 10% of the Russian populace consistently.
He stated, 'Not all those who listen to us are automatically pro-American. Individuals with an open mindset wish to hear our perspective.'
And that’s our main objective. Whether in Russia or any other nation, it's the swing voters—those seeking insights from various perspectives—who influence which way the country will eventually head.
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