China, Russia Seize Opportunity as Trump Dismantles US-Funded Media Networks

Trump Administration Moves to Cut Voice of America, Benefiting Chinese and Russian Media Expansion

Washington, D.C., March 18, 2025: As President Donald Trump moves to dismantle Voice of America (VOA) and other US-funded international media networks, China and Russia are eager to fill the vacuum.

The executive order signed by Trump aims to scale down the nearly $1 billion US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which funds VOA, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), and Radio Free Asia (RFA)—networks that have played a critical role in providing independent news in regions with restricted press freedom.

Hundreds of journalists have been put on leave or dismissed following the move, significantly weakening America’s global media influence. Critics argue that this shift directly benefits China’s state-run CGTN and Russia’s Sputnik, both of which have ramped up their global propaganda efforts in recent years.

US Officials Warn of National Security Risks

Former officials and media experts have strongly criticized the defunding of USAGM, warning that authoritarian states will exploit the situation to amplify their own narratives.

“Countries like China, Russia, and Iran are investing hundreds of millions of dollars to spread anti-American propaganda and disinformation,” said Lisa Curtis, board chair of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and former senior official in the National Security Council during Trump’s first term.

Curtis emphasized that cutting these critical media resources plays into the hands of adversaries.

“Why would the Trump administration want to disarm itself in this environment?” she asked.

A legal challenge has been initiated to block the funding cuts, citing Congress’ authority over appropriations.

China and Russia Expand Global Media Influence

In recent years, both China and Russia have aggressively expanded their state-controlled media to counter Western influence in international journalism.

• China’s Media Strategy

  • China offers low-cost or free content to international media, particularly in developing nations.
  • State-controlled CGTN and Xinhua News Agency provide equipment and localized news production support to partners worldwide.
  • The 2022 Freedom House report highlighted China’s success in providing media infrastructure that struggling outlets in developing countries rely on.

• Russia’s Media Aggression

  • Sputnik and RT (formerly Russia Today) have shifted focus to Africa, Latin America, and parts of Asia following their ban in Europe after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
  • The Global Engagement Center, a US State Department initiative to combat disinformation, was recently shut down, further weakening Western resistance to Russian propaganda.
  • Russia has engaged in anti-Western social media campaigns, targeting global health initiatives and democratic institutions.

Sarah Cook, a senior researcher who authored the 2022 Freedom House report, warned that China and Russia’s expansion efforts are not merely about replacing VOA, but about shaping the global narrative.

“Even if Chinese state media are stepping in, the content is completely different. It’s all pro-government—even pro-local government. Independent journalism will take a hit,” Cook said.

US Global Media: A Long-Standing Tool for Influence

The US Agency for Global Media has historically played a crucial role in challenging authoritarian narratives and reaching audiences behind restricted media environments.

Contributions of US-Funded Media:

• Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) played a vital role in Cold War counterpropaganda, providing uncensored news behind the Iron Curtain.
• Radio Free Asia (RFA) broadcasts in Tibetan and Uyghur languages, serving as one of the few independent platforms covering China’s treatment of ethnic minorities.
• Persian-language Radio Farda reaches nearly 10% of Iran’s adult population weekly, countering state-controlled Iranian media.
• VOA and its affiliates operate in dozens of languages, often employing exiled journalists with deep networks inside authoritarian regimes.

The impact of these networks extends beyond news reporting—they contribute to diplomatic soft power, cultural influence, and countering disinformation in autocratic regimes.

China’s Hiring Spree Amid Western Media Decline

As Western-funded journalism faces budget cuts and government disengagement, China has strategically expanded its media workforce worldwide.

Mareike Ohlberg, a senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund, highlighted that China began a global hiring spree in media during the 2008 financial crisis, taking advantage of Western media struggles.

“They saw an opportunity—let’s offer our narrative. That expansion will continue regardless of this decision,” Ohlberg said.

The consequences are already apparent:

• Following budget cuts in 2023, the BBC shut down its long-running Arabic radio service. Soon after, Russian media took over the frequency in Lebanon, effectively replacing an independent global broadcaster with a state-controlled propaganda machine.
• China’s Global Times celebrated Trump’s decision, labeling VOA as a “lie factory.”
• Sputnik and RT have accused VOA and RFE of spreading “fake news” about Russia’s alleged war crimes in Ukraine.

Trump Administration’s Rationale: Cost-Cutting or Political Agenda?

Supporters of Trump’s decision argue that US-funded media is outdated and no longer necessary in an age where private news sources are widely available.

Kari Lake, a vocal Trump ally brought into USAGM leadership, called the agency a “giant rot and burden to the American taxpayer”, suggesting that government-backed journalism is unsalvageable.

However, critics counter that government-funded media plays a unique role in covering stories that private outlets often overlook due to commercial pressures.

As the Biden administration prepares for a potential legal battle over the funding cuts, the global media landscape is undergoing a rapid transformation, with China and Russia poised to dominate narratives in regions previously influenced by US-funded journalism.