Trump Directs Closure of US-Funded Media Organizations
Executive Order Halts Funding for VOA, RFA, and RFE/RL
US President Donald Trump has enacted an executive order terminating several US-funded international media organizations, including Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Asia (RFA), and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). Issued on March 14, 2025, the order also places over 1,300 VOA employees on administrative leave as part of a broader initiative to cut non-essential operations within the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM). The administration asserts that this action aims to reduce government spending and modernize US public diplomacy in a digital media-dominated environment.
This decision has faced significant backlash from press freedom advocates and human rights organizations, who contend that it jeopardizes independent journalism and access to trustworthy information. In Cambodia, where RFA and VOA have been vital in reporting on political and social matters, there are rising concerns over the potential loss of essential news sources. Some analysts, however, argue that this move is consistent with Trump’s larger strategy of restructuring government entities by eliminating outlets deemed politically biased or unnecessary.
While the shutdown has been praised by certain governments that have previously charged these outlets with interference, others regard it as a blow to global press freedom. Detractors caution that shutting down these media organizations could diminish America’s capacity to foster democracy and combat misinformation internationally. With the future of US-funded international broadcasting in doubt, media experts indicate that this decision signifies a major change in the nation’s global information policy approach.
This decision has faced significant backlash from press freedom advocates and human rights organizations, who contend that it jeopardizes independent journalism and access to trustworthy information. In Cambodia, where RFA and VOA have been vital in reporting on political and social matters, there are rising concerns over the potential loss of essential news sources. Some analysts, however, argue that this move is consistent with Trump’s larger strategy of restructuring government entities by eliminating outlets deemed politically biased or unnecessary.
While the shutdown has been praised by certain governments that have previously charged these outlets with interference, others regard it as a blow to global press freedom. Detractors caution that shutting down these media organizations could diminish America’s capacity to foster democracy and combat misinformation internationally. With the future of US-funded international broadcasting in doubt, media experts indicate that this decision signifies a major change in the nation’s global information policy approach.
