AKIPRESS.COM - Independent media organizations worldwide are facing a severe crisis and are massively scaling back operations due to the cessation of $150 million in annual support from the United States. This concerning development is highlighted in the report, "Crisis in Journalism: The Impact of US Government Funding Cuts on Global Media," published in June by a consortium of BBC Media Action, Free Press Unlimited, and Internews Europe.

The report analyzes the ramifications of a 2025 US Presidential decree that suspended a significant portion of foreign aid. In fiscal year 2024, the US Congress allocated $271.5 million for independent media and freedom of information dissemination, with approximately $150 million directly supporting journalism. In 2025, most of these funds disappeared, jeopardizing the existence of numerous newsrooms globally.

Impact Across Key Regions

The report details the widespread negative impact of the funding cuts across various regions:

Central Asia (Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan): Independent media in Central Asia are particularly vulnerable to liquidation. US government funding cuts have severely affected a wide range of programs, including those monitoring and identifying foreign information interference (FIMI) from actors like Russia, China, and Iran, as well as regional and domestic players. Newsrooms and NGOs have been forced to reduce staff.

Sub-Saharan Africa: US funding traditionally supported networks of community radio stations.

In South Sudan, Eye Radio has cut its staff from 47 to 12 and may not be able to operate until the 2026 elections.

At least 25 radio stations in Zambia have been affected.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, at least 77 radio stations, many operating in conflict zones, have been impacted.

Newsrooms in Ethiopia and Zimbabwe have reduced staff by up to 80%.

Programs focused on open data, digital rights, and journalist training have ceased in Cameroon, Zambia, Tanzania, Mozambique, Angola, Lesotho, Eswatini, and Botswana.

Asia and the Pacific: These cuts have affected half of all donor funding for media and information in the region.

Independent media in Afghanistan, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Tunisia have lost a significant portion or all of their operational budgets.

In Indonesia, over 300 newsrooms received US support in 2024.

In Afghanistan, 13 radio stations reported that 72% of their budget came through USAID, leading to 65% of their employees being affected by layoffs or salary reductions.

In Myanmar, over 70 newsrooms lost funding, and small media outlets serving linguistic minorities lost 100% of their revenue.

Programs for investigating corruption in the Pacific region and training women journalists in Pakistan have been terminated.

Latin America and the Caribbean: This region has been disproportionately affected, as US funding previously constituted over 75% of media donor assistance.

60 newsrooms in 22 countries have been impacted, resulting in the closure of approximately 450 projects.

In El Salvador, four newsrooms have already closed, with others losing up to 70% of their income.

Nicaraguan media in exile in Costa Rica have lost funding, laid off staff, and cut salaries.

US-backed projects in Venezuela have lost up to 40% of their funding.

Networks and programs supporting young journalists, local language media, and corruption investigations have either closed or are under threat of closure.

The report underscores the profound and widespread consequences of these funding reductions on independent journalism globally, particularly impacting critical programs that counter disinformation and support democratic processes.