The fallout from Trump’s latest executive order is hitting journalism hard especially at Radio Free Asia (RFA). The government-funded but editorially independent news outlet has been forced to furlough 75% of its U.S.-based staff after Trump signed an order dismantling the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which funds RFA and other independent media outlets.
This move has sparked outrage from press freedom advocates, including Reporters Without Borders (RSF), which warns that the decision not only cripples RFA but also puts its international staff in serious danger. Many RFA journalists in the U.S. are on visas tied to their jobs, and without them, they could be deported back to countries like China, Vietnam, and Cambodia places where their reporting has made them targets for persecution.
RFA says only its overseas operations in cities like Seoul, Taipei, and Bangkok remain functional for now, but the loss of funding has already led to the cancellation of its work with international contractors. If the financial situation doesn’t change, RFA could shut down entirely.
RSF has slammed Trump’s decision as a major win for authoritarian governments that have long sought to silence independent reporting, calling on Congress and global stakeholders to step in before it’s too late. Meanwhile, concerns are also growing over the fate of three RFA journalists already detained in Vietnam, as press freedom takes another hit.
Radio Free Asia Gutted—Three-Quarters of US Staff Furloughed Under Trump’s Order
