Trump Shuts Down 3 US Government-Funded Radio Stations

Former US President Donald Trump froze the operations of three major American radio stations: Voice of America, Radio Free Asia, and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

These stations, funded by the US government, played a crucial role in countering Russian and Chinese propaganda.

On Saturday, hundreds of journalists and employees received official emails informing them that their access to the offices had been revoked.

They were instructed to hand over their press credentials, work phones, and other equipment, effectively halting their work.

Trump issued an executive order labeling the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees these media outlets, as part of the unnecessary federal bureaucracy.

The White House justified the move by claiming it aimed to prevent American taxpayers from funding extremist propaganda.

Kari Lake, a Trump supporter and former TV anchor who was appointed as an advisor to the agency, stated that the funding provided to these media platforms no longer aligns with the agency's goals.

In a sarcastic response, White House spokesperson Harrison Fields posted the word "Goodbye" in 20 different languages on social media, mocking the multilingual nature of Voice of America's broadcasts.

The decision sparked outrage among media leaders. The president of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty described the shutdown as a gift to America's enemies.

He argued that authoritarian regimes in countries like Iran, China, Russia, and Belarus would celebrate the fall of these stations, which have operated for over 75 years.

Many experts believe this move weakens America's ability to counter foreign disinformation and support press freedom in countries with restricted media access.

Radio Free Asia, which was established in 1996, focused on delivering uncensored news to countries like China, North Korea, Vietnam, and Burma, where independent journalism is heavily suppressed.

Although these media outlets are funded by the US government, they have always operated with editorial independence, protected by legal regulations.

However, this independence clashed with Trump's vision, as he believed these platforms should promote his administration's policies.

The shutdown of these platforms has raised concerns about the future of American soft power and the global fight against disinformation.