US Government Shutdown Forces Radio Free Asia to Suspend News Operations

US Government Shutdown Forces Radio Free Asia to Suspend News Operations
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Radio Free Asia (RFA) has been forced to suspend its news gathering and broadcasting operations across multiple platforms due to the ongoing US government shutdown and resulting funding cuts, The Guardian reported.

The closure of RFA—a federally funded, non-profit broadcaster that delivers independent news to closed societies in Asia—is a direct consequence of a massive reduction in operational funds. RFA’s parent agency, the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), began shutting down many of its publicly funded news operations, including RFA’s newsroom, after Congress failed to pass a federal budget.

The suspension impacts the flow of information to audiences in countries with heavily restricted media environments, such as China, North Korea, and Vietnam. RFA’s president, Stephen Yates, confirmed that news operations ceased on October 31, 2025. The move represents a significant setback for the US government’s efforts to promote freedom of the press and democratic values globally, as a vital source of independent reporting is silenced due to domestic political deadlock.