RFA faces Uncertain Future (Image AI based Representation)
The Tibetan community faces a potential loss of one of its most vital global platforms, as Radio Free Asia (RFA) grapples with the termination of its federal grants under an executive order issued by U.S. President Donald Trump on March 15, 2025. The order targets the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), RFA’s parent agency, threatening the operations of RFA and other U.S.-funded broadcasters like Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). For Tibetans, the possible cessation of RFA’s Tibetan-language service could severely limit access to uncensored news and weaken their global advocacy.
RFA, established by Congress in 1996 under the International Broadcasting Act, has been a cornerstone of independent journalism in regions with restricted press freedoms. Its Tibetan service, one of nine language programs, delivers radio broadcasts and online content to audiences in Tibet and the diaspora, offering rare insights into a region where Beijing tightly controls information. From reporting on cultural preservation to exposing human rights abuses, RFA has been a lifeline for Tibetans, reaching nearly 60 million people weekly across its services.
The executive order calls for reducing USAGM’s “non-statutory components” to the “maximum extent consistent with applicable law.” However, a letter from USAGM senior adviser Kari Lake to RFA President Bay Fang, dated March 15, 2025, explicitly terminated the outlet’s federal grant and demanded the return of unobligated funds. While RFA’s statutory establishment suggests legal protections, the loss of funding—its sole financial lifeline—puts operations at immediate risk. Fang has vowed to challenge the order, stating, “The termination of RFA’s grant is a reward to dictators and despots, including the Chinese Communist Party, who would like nothing better than to have their influence go unchecked.”
For Tibetans, the stakes are high. Inside Tibet, where internet censorship is pervasive and VPNs are illegal, RFA’s shortwave radio broadcasts reach those without digital access, providing uncensored news on issues like the erosion of Tibetan-language education and restrictions on religious practices. “RFA is one of the only ways we hear what’s happening at home,” said Pema Tsering, a Tibetan exile in India. “Without it, we’re cut off from our own story.”
Globally, RFA’s Tibetan service amplifies diaspora voices, fostering solidarity and informing advocacy. Its English-language translations of on-the-ground reports from Tibet have been critical for international audiences, shaping awareness of Beijing’s policies, such as the controversial boarding schools for Tibetan children. “RFA doesn’t just report—it counters China’s narrative,” said Rep. Ami Bera (D-CA) in a post on X. “Its loss would weaken our ability to expose human rights abuses.”
The broader implications are equally troubling. Observers like Maya Wang of Human Rights Watch warn that without RFA, regions like Tibet could become “information black holes,” aligning with Beijing’s censorship goals. Chinese state media have already framed the funding cuts as a victory, with commentators celebrating the potential silencing of outlets they view as adversarial.
RFA’s staff also face uncertainty. With 400 full-time employees and 500 stringers, the outlet has placed 75% of its workforce on leave. At least eight non-U.S. citizen journalists risk deportation if work visas lapse, while five former contributors remain imprisoned abroad for their RFA work. “These journalists are heroes,” Fang told CBS News. “They risk everything to get the truth out.”
Hope persists, though challenges loom. RFA has 30 days to appeal the grant termination, and Fang is exploring legal, congressional, or private funding options. Press freedom advocates, including the Committee to Protect Journalists, have urged Congress to restore USAGM’s budget, emphasizing RFA’s role in countering authoritarian narratives. Tibetan activists are mobilizing globally, with calls for alternative platforms to preserve their voice.
The loss of RFA’s Tibetan service would leave a void in global awareness of Tibet’s struggles. While the outlet’s fate hangs in the balance, its legacy as a beacon for truth in one of the world’s most censored regions underscores the urgency of finding a path forward. For Tibetans, RFA remains more than a broadcaster—it’s a symbol of resilience and hope.