Dharamshala, March 29 — Voice of America (VOA) has shut down its operations in Dharamsala, with Radio Free Asia (RFA) set to follow by the end of April, after US President Donald Trump’s executive order on March 14 reduced funding for seven federally backed entities, including the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees both outlets.
The Tibetan media in exile has called the closure a significant blow to the Tibetan cause. The Dharamsala-based Association of Tibetan Journalists (ATJ) condemned the funding cuts and urged the US government to reinstate financial support for the Tibetan-language services of both stations.
“These media outlets have been vital sources of information on Tibetans’ lives under Chinese rule, the Dalai Lama’s activities, and the plight of Tibetan refugees,” ATJ said in a statement, warning that the closures would severely undermine press freedom and democratic values in the exile community.
During the 17th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile’s ongoing budget session, Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) President Penpa Tsering informed lawmakers that all VOA headquarters staff had been placed on administrative leave, while regional reporters, including those in Dharamsala, had terminated operations. Similarly, RFA’s central staff were furloughed, with regional staff being supported through reserve funds until the end of April.
Chinese state-controlled media have celebrated the shutdown, portraying it as a victory against alleged false reporting. The Global Times described VOA as a “so-called beacon of freedom” discarded like a “dirty rag” by its own government. Other Chinese outlets, including Beijing Daily, accused VOA of spreading misinformation about China, Tibetan journalists said.
Tibetan MPs and organisations, including the CTA and ATJ, have called on the US government to reconsider its decision, warning that the closures will create an information vacuum for Tibetans in Tibet and in exile.
