Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Asia (RFA) have shut down their operations in Dharamsala, India. This has raised concerns among the Tibetan community in exile and the Association of Tibetan Journalists (ATJ). VOA and RFA are US-government-funded media outlets that provide information about Tibet to the Tibetan diaspora.
During the 17th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile’s budget session, Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) President Penpa Tsering reported that VOA staff have been placed on administrative leave and RFA staff have been furloughed. The closure follows an executive order by US President Donald Trump, which mandated the reduction of operations for seven federally funded entities, including the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees VOA and RFA. The ATJ has condemned the funding cuts and urged the US government to reinstate financial support for the Tibetan language services of both radio stations.
Tibetan community concerns over VOA closures
They warned that the closures would undermine press freedom and democratic values within the Tibetan exile community. VOA and RFA have been important sources of information on Tibetan life under Chinese rule, the activities of the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan government-in-exile, and the plight of Tibetan refugees.
Chinese state-controlled media have celebrated the shutdowns, portraying them as victories against what they label as false reporting. Tibetan journalists fear that Tibetans now face an information vacuum as these media platforms fall silent. Many Tibetan MPs have called for the restoration of funding for the two media outlets, describing them as lifelines for communicating the human rights situation inside Tibet.
The Central Tibetan Administration, ATJ, and other Tibetan organizations have appealed to the US government to reconsider its decision and restore the critical services provided by VOA and RFA’s Tibetan language divisions. This development marks a challenging time for the Tibetan exile community, which has long relied on these media outlets for news and information critical to their cause.
