Radio Free Asia (RFA) members have called on Congress to collaborate with President Trump in an effort to restore funding and protect press freedom internationally. Sonam Singeri, unit chair of the Radio Free Asia Guild and journalist in the Tibetan language service, stated, “We went to Capitol Hill to lobby for Radio Free Asia so our funding can be restored because we are one of the few news outlets that broadcast news into repressive regimes.” Singeri expressed optimism about the responses received from congressional chiefs of staff, hoping for a swift restoration of funds.
Members and leaders from NewsGuild-CWA have engaged with lawmakers and their teams, urging immediate action to reinstate RFA’s services. They emphasize the need for Congress to cooperate with President Trump in restoring both funding and editorial independence for RFA. Jon Schleuss, president of The NewsGuild-CWA, remarked, “Silencing RFA emboldens authoritarian governments and weakens America’s moral authority. We’re not just talking about jobs—we’re talking about the global fight for truth, the ideal of a free press and the lives of people who depend on us to tell their stories.”
In March, The NewsGuild-CWA joined other unions and journalists in filing a lawsuit against actions affecting USAGM. This included impacts on Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty among others due to administrative decisions believed to contravene federal law by attempting closures without congressional consent.
Recently, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit lifted a stay blocking a preliminary injunction. This injunction mandates that Congressionally allocated funds be distributed by the U.S. Agency for Global Media to grantees such as Radio Free Asia and others.
