China’s state-owned newspaper, the Global Times, expressed approval on Monday regarding budget cuts to the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM). This agency oversees broadcasters such as Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Asia (RFA), who have a history of critical reporting on Beijing.
In an editorial published Monday, the Global Times accused VOA of biased reporting on China-related issues. The editorial claimed that “almost every malicious falsehood about China has VOA’s fingerprints all over it.” It listed alleged examples, including coverage of human rights concerns in Xinjiang, territorial disputes in the South China Sea, and the so-called “China virus” narrative.
Other nationalist commentators also took aim at VOA and RFA. This included a columnist from the Communist Party-affiliated Beijing Daily and Hu Xijin, the former editor-in-chief of the Global Times. Additionally, former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen joined the criticism, writing on social media that the funding cuts were a significant step in “eliminating fake news, disinformation, lies, distortions, incitement, and chaos around the world.”
Funding cuts stem from an executive order signed by Trump on Friday, which mandated reductions in operations for seven federal entities, including USAGM and the Wilson Center think tank. The move aligns with broader efforts to scale back foreign aid and cut the civilian workforce.
The impact of the funding reduction has been swift. As of Monday, VOA’s broadcasts have ceased, and its website has not published any new content beyond March 15. RFA continues to release content for the time being, though it is bracing for upcoming staff furloughs.
The cuts have sparked debate in Washington. While Secretary of State Marco Rubio has publicly supported Uygur’s rights, the State Department has remained vague on the situation.
Democrats have strongly opposed the decision to defund USAGM’s media outlets. U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen condemned the move as “unfathomable.” She vowed to protect legally mandated USAGM functions and argued that Trump’s actions threaten press freedom. “If President Trump gets his way, those who depend on US-supported independent media as alternatives to Chinese- and Kremlin-run media outlets and those living under authoritarian regimes will lose a critical lifeline,” she said.
