Radio Free Asia announces mass layoffs amid funding battle

Radio Free Asia (RFA), a U.S. government-funded news network that broadcasts in nine Asian languages, has virtually fired everyone in the staff because of the halting of government funding for the network under the Trump administration. The network has also discontinued a number of its news shows and digital streams.

It closely follows the executive order signed out in March 2025 by former President Donald Trump, which had cut funding for an RFA along with six other media outlets supported by the U.S. government – VOA being the other, together with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks.

The ruling and order of a federal judge about federal money release, however, was appealed by the Trump administration to a circuit court, which has currently stayed this ruling in suspension so that all actions leading to any implementation remain stayed.

According to Bay Fang, CEO of RFA, the organization was left with no other option but to cut down staff. A few journalists that were vulnerable, especially those who risked deportation to a repressive country, were kept.

Journalists and media heads have raised serious concerns about the impact of such cuts. In a joint letter to the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), the leaders of RFA, VOA and MBN warned that lives could be in danger and that the U.S. reputation was at risk.

Such words of reminder were from Judge Royce C. Lamberth, who ruled in favor of the broadcasters. He warned the government that funding decisions made by Congress and the President cannot be undone by executive officials.