Radio Free Asia (RFA) has restarted broadcasting to China, following severe disruptions due to budget cuts under the Trump administration, according to its CEO Bay Fang. The U.S.-funded broadcaster had been forced to halt operations the previous year.
RFA’s operations, overseen by the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), were shut down as former USAGM acting CEO Kari Lake cited wasteful spending and alleged anti-Trump biases. The shutdown caused significant layoffs and was criticized for conceding influence to China, an ongoing global competitor.
The restored broadcasts, made possible through private contracting for transmission services, are available in Mandarin, Tibetan, and Uyghur, with plans to resume other frequencies soon. Meanwhile, a new U.S. spending bill will fund USAGM at $653 million, less than previous years but more than Trump’s recommended $153 million budget, indicating a partial recovery of U.S. global media influence.