Radio Free Asia Restarts China Broadcasts Following U.S. Funding Reductions

WASHINGTON — Radio Free Asia (RFA) has resumed broadcasting to audiences in China, according to its president and CEO Bay Fang, following last year’s funding cuts that largely forced the outlet to halt operations.

RFA and its sister outlets, including Voice of America, have historically been funded by the U.S. Congress through the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM).

In 2025, Kari Lake, appointed by U.S. President Donald Trump as acting CEO of USAGM, terminated grants to several outlets, citing concerns over alleged waste of taxpayer funds and bias. The move led to widespread layoffs and criticism from lawmakers of both parties, who argued the cuts weakened U.S. global influence.

In a public statement, Bay Fang said RFA has resumed broadcasting in Mandarin, Tibetan, and Uyghur, describing the service as among the few sources of independent reporting available in those languages. She said the restart was made possible through private transmission contracts but noted that long-term operations depend on continued congressional funding.

Earlier this month, President Trump signed a bipartisan spending bill allocating $653 million to USAGM — a reduction from previous years but more than the administration’s earlier proposal to significantly reduce the agency’s funding.

Chinese officials declined to comment on U.S. domestic policy but criticized RFA’s reporting. In contrast, rights advocates have said RFA has played a significant role in reporting on human rights issues, including the situation of Uyghurs and other minorities in China.

According to an RFA spokesperson, the outlet has also resumed broadcasts to Tibet, North Korea, and Myanmar through private transmission services. Mandarin audio content is currently available online, with plans to restore regular radio broadcasts. Tibetan, Uyghur, Korean, and Burmese programming is airing on short- and medium-wave frequencies, while previous satellite transmissions have not yet resumed.