Radio Free Asia is facing a significant crisis as it announces mass layoffs and the shutdown of major language services due to the funding cuts initiated by the Trump administration. The organization, which has been broadcasting in languages like Burmese, Cambodian, and Mandarin since 1996, is now forced to let go of about 90% of its staff. President and CEO Bay Fang expressed deep concern over the situation, stating that they can no longer rely on the U.S. Agency for Global Media to disburse funds as intended by Congress.

The decision to wind down operations of U.S. government-funded broadcasters like RFA came as part of an effort by the Trump administration to reduce unnecessary governmental entities. Despite reaching a weekly audience of over 400 million people worldwide, RFA now faces the challenge of maintaining its crucial reporting on issues like China’s detention campaign on Uyghurs and the civil war in Myanmar. The current situation has left only a skeleton crew to manage the scaled-back operations.

Following Trump’s directive, Kari Lake, a senior advisor, terminated grants to RFA and other nonprofit news outlets funded by the U.S. government, leading to widespread suspensions and layoffs. Although a federal judge ordered the reinstatement of funds and employees for RFA and other affected organizations, a D.C. appeals court recently granted an administrative stay on that decision, further complicating the situation.

This turn of events has left RFA and its dedicated staff facing an uncertain future, with ongoing challenges to continue their essential work in providing news and information to audiences in repressive or authoritarian societies.