Suppressing Radio Free Asia Amounts to a Self-inflicted Setback

A Wake-up Call for Independent Journalism: The Trump Administration's Assault on the US Agency for Global Media

Suppressing Radio Free Asia Amounts to a Self-inflicted Setback

By Mu Sochua

The US Agency for Global Media (USAGM) may not be on your radar, but for millions worldwide, its outlets—including Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), Middle East Broadcasting Networks (MBN), the Office of Cuba Broadcasting, and Radio Free Asia (RFA)—have long provided a lifeline of reliable news. However, in March 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order aiming to slash the agency's operations, placing these vital news sources under threat.

Part of the supposed cost-cutting effort, the executive order led to the termination of grants and contracts for international broadcasters under USAGM's wing, leaving thousands of journalists jobless and millions without access to verified reporting. Even as RFE/RL's funding was partially restored following a federal judge's ruling, RFA's budget of $60.8 million remains in limbo, with a court ruling favoring disbursements but no funds being distributed yet.

This callous move amounts to a devastating blow to the US's soft power, leaving an information vacuum that authoritarian regimes are quick to exploit. Official statements from China and Cambodia have hailed the dismantling of USAGM as an end to “biased propaganda poison” and “fake news,” emphasizing the agency's crucial role in combating misinformation.

The future of RFA, despite its relatively limited budget, is dire. With its mission to deliver uncensored news in environments where freedom of the press is scarce, RFA has been a leading source of inspiration for 60 million weekly listeners and readers. In countries like Cambodia, where press freedom is repressed, RFA's reports serve as a beacon of hope and a trusted news source for both locals and expats.

Under testing times—as democratic deterioration, government media censorship, and opposition suppression intensify in Cambodia—RFA's role has become more crucial than ever. Journalists like Mech Dara, imprisoned for his courageous reporting, and Gerald Flynn, blacklisted for appearing in a climate documentary denounced as spreading false information, underscore the escalating crackdown on press freedom and dissent.

Amid this assault, RFA remains unyielding, publishing investigative reports on corruption, cybercrime, and the erosion of civil liberties. However, the abrupt defunding of the agency has lead to furloughs and operational instability, placing its integrity and longevity at risk.

Beyond the media industry, the gutting of RFA is a deeply geopolitical issue. Across Southeast Asia, regimes sympathetic to China have increasingly adopted state-controlled narratives to suppress dissent. In Myanmar, where a military coup in 2021 initiated an era of violence and repression, RFA's coverage has played a crucial role in exposing atrocities that would otherwise be obscured from view. The loss of this critical reporting would not only keep abuses concealed domestically but also allow authorities to act with impunity and promote even more oppressive tactics.

The broader implications of this crisis stretch beyond Myanmar. The US's ability to project democratic values and safeguard press freedom hangs in the balance, as China expands its global state media apparatus, including outlets like CGTN and Xinhua, into regions where US influence is weakened. These state-sponsored outlets serve to promote China's interpretation of events and shape global discourse.

Cambodia, with its reliance on Chinese investment and growing diplomatic alignment, exemplifies this shifting landscape of influence. By abandoning RFA, the US would cede yet another front in the battle for ideas, allowing China to further tighten its grip on the region.

It is not just about budget lines; it is about demonstrating a commitment to defending press freedom and supporting the journalists who risk their lives to unveil corruption and abuse. The US must not abandon the millions who rely on RFA for accurate reporting in an age where trust and truth are under pressure.

Mu Sochua, a former Cambodian politician and Nobel Peace Prize nominee, is the President of the Khmer Movement for Democracy.

Insights:

The abrupt termination of funding for RFA has forced furloughs of most Washington, D.C.-based staff, prompting a lawsuit seeking injunctive relief.
Despite a court order mandating fund disbursement, RFA’s $60.8 million annual budget remains suspended.
Democratic regimes, like China and Cambodia, are exploiting the resulting information vacuum created by the weakened USAGM, eroding US soft power and increasing their own influence.
The court order mandating RFA's disbursement of funds remains unheeded, leaving its $60.8 million annual budget in limbo and causing furloughs for most Washington, D.C.-based staff.
The lack of funding for RFA has led to media organizations like the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and the National Press Club filing an amicus brief in support of RFA, highlighting the critical need for independent journalism in war-and-conflicts and policy-and-legislation.
In the midst of the battle for ideas and democratic values, China's state-controlled CGTN and Xinhua outlets are making inroads into regions weakened by US influence, ultimately allowing China to reshape global discourse and further tighten its grip on regions like Cambodia.
The erosion of press freedom, as demonstrated by the blacklisting of journalists like Gerald Flynn, not only hampers the flow of general-news but also contributes to the perpetuation of corruption, cybercrime, and the suppression of civil liberties in regions experiencing democratic deterioration.