US EditionCongress to Continue Funding Voice of America, Despite Trump's Wishes
Congress approved $653 million for the U.S. Agency for Global Media to maintain broadcasting operations and nonprofit grantees, four times more than Trump requested for shutdown.
- On January 13, 2026, lawmakers agreed to provide about $653 million to fund the U.S. Agency for Global Media and Voice of America, rejecting President Donald Trump's demand to defund the broadcaster.
- President Donald Trump signed an executive order last year calling for dismantlement of USAGM, and Kari Lake, deputy CEO installed by Trump, placed more than 1,300 Voice of America staffers on paid leave and halted broadcasts.
- The bill designates $199.5 million to VOA, $138 million for USAGM, and funds nonprofit grantees including $112.5 million for RFE/RL, $69 million for Middle East Broadcasting, $53.5 million for RFA, and $40.5 million for the Open Technology Fund.
- The package must still clear the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate before reaching President Donald Trump, who could veto funding for USAGM; Radio Free Asia plans to resume paused Asia-Pacific operations, and VOA has restarted content in four languages.
- The funding level offered is down from $867 million in prior years but far exceeds the Trump administration's $153 million shutdown request, and preliminary judicial decisions favor plaintiffs restoring grantee funding.
9 Articles
9 Articles
The American Congress agreed on funding for the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which provides grants between...
This is more than four times the amount requested by the Donald Trump administration ($153 million) to “support the orderly closure of USAGM operations.”
Congress to continue funding Voice of America, despite Trump's wishes
Former news anchor-turned-politician Kari Lake. (Photo by Gage Skidmore) Federal lawmakers have proposed a bipartisan spending bill that would allocate more than $650 million to the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), the external broadcaster that operates the Voice of America and oversees Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty and other media outlets. The spending bill, released on Sunday, includes $643 million for USAGM and $10 million for financ…
In Another Big Middle Finger to Trump, Congress Agrees to Fund Voice of America - Los Cerritos Community News
January 13, 2026 Lawmakers from both parties and houses of Congress have agreed to provide about $653 million to fund Voice of America’s parent agency, rejecting President Donald Trump’s demand to defund the international broadcaster and shut it down. republicans in the Senate apparently have got some guts lately and the latest spurn of Trump cuts during Felon Musk’s reign. A bipartisan spending bill released Sunday would allocate $643 million f…
The Detroit News
Congress agrees to fund Voice of America, bucking Trump shutdown order
A bipartisan spending bill would allocate $643 million for broadcasting from the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which oversees VOA, plus nearly $10 million for capital improvements.
Congress approves $653 million for VoA, RFA and other USAGM broadcasters
Tenzin Nyidon DHARAMSHALA, Jan. 14: The U.S. Congress has reached a bipartisan agreement to allocate approximately $653 million to fund the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), the federal agency that oversees international broadcasters including the Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Asia (RFA), Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), and others. Lawmakers from both the House of Representatives and the Senate reached an agreement as part of…
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