Trump Freezes Global Aid, Threatening Independent Media, RSF Warns

U.S. President Donald Trump has frozen billions of dollars in global aid, including more than $268 million allocated by Congress to support independent media and the free flow of information, drawing condemnation from press freedom advocates. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) warned that the decision has thrown NGOs, media outlets, and journalists into uncertainty, urging international donors to step in to sustain independent journalism.

Since Trump’s announcement, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has been in turmoil. Its website has gone dark, its official social media accounts have been suspended, and headquarters have been shut down, with staff instructed to stay home. Elon Musk, whom Trump appointed as head of the semi-official Department of Government Efficiency, called USAID a “criminal organization,” declaring, “We are shutting it down.” Hours later, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that he had been named acting director of USAID, hinting that its operations would be folded into the State Department.

Journalists and Media Outlets Left in Limbo

The freeze has left independent media worldwide scrambling for solutions. Organizations reliant on U.S. funding, such as the International Media Support Foundation, as well as smaller outlets operating in repressive environments like Iran and Russia, have reported an immediate crisis.

“Cutting off American aid funding creates chaos worldwide, particularly in journalism,” RSF USA Executive Director Clayton Weimers said in a statement. “These frozen programs provide crucial support for media transparency and democracy. The tragic irony is that this move creates a vacuum that plays into the hands of propaganda networks and authoritarian regimes.”

USAID has historically supported independent media in more than 30 countries, though the full impact of the funding freeze remains unclear. Many affected organizations have been reluctant to speak out, fearing long-term funding risks or political retaliation. According to a now-deleted USAID briefing, the agency funded training and support for 6,200 journalists in 2023, assisted 707 independent news agencies, and supported 279 civil society organizations focused on strengthening media independence.

Media Outlets Facing Immediate Shutdowns

Several media organizations have already been forced to suspend operations.

“We have content scheduled until the end of January, but after that, if we don’t find a solution, we will no longer be able to publish,” said a journalist from a Belarusian exile media outlet, who requested anonymity.

In Cameroon, the funding freeze has forced DataCameroon, an independent outlet in the economic capital Douala, to halt several projects, including one focused on journalist safety and another covering the country’s upcoming presidential elections. An Iranian exile media organization has had to suspend staff contracts for three months and drastically cut salaries to stay afloat.

“If we go offline, they will have more power,” warned an Iranian journalist in exile, referring to the Iranian government’s ability to fill the media void with state propaganda.

USAID: A Key Funder of Ukrainian Media

The freeze has particularly alarmed Ukrainian media, which heavily rely on international assistance. According to RSF, nine out of ten Ukrainian outlets receive foreign aid, with USAID being a major donor.

"At Slidstvo.Info, 80% of our budget is affected," said Anna Babinets, co-founder and CEO of the independent investigative journalism platform.

The risk, Babinets warned, is that this financial vacuum could be exploited by actors seeking to influence editorial policies.

“Some media outlets may shut down or be bought out by business tycoons or oligarchs. I believe Russian money will start flowing in. And, of course, government propaganda will gain strength,” she said.

RSF has already identified attempts at disinformation, including a fabricated video falsely attributed to the organization that suggested RSF welcomed the USAID funding freeze—an assertion it categorically denied.

Global Search for Alternative Funding

The abrupt cut to U.S. aid highlights the financial fragility of independent media worldwide.

“This USAID freeze is just the tip of the iceberg—it illustrates the severity of the crisis,” said Oleg Derenyukha, editor-in-chief of the Ukrainian outlet NikVesti, based in Mykolaiv.

Since 2024, Ukrainian media have faced declining donor support, making financial sustainability increasingly difficult. Even small funding cuts can have outsized consequences. RSF estimates that rebuilding Ukraine’s independent media sector, weakened by Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, will require at least $96 million over three years.

Beyond Ukraine, media in other regions are also struggling. Georgia’s controversial foreign influence law, modeled after Russian legislation, has jeopardized numerous independent outlets, with the country’s prime minister openly praising Trump’s decision.

Uncertain Future for USAID’s Media Assistance

The Trump administration has stated that the aid suspension will last at least 90 days, but some fear it could become permanent.

“This could be a long-term shutdown,” warned Katerina Abramova, communications director at Meduza, a prominent Russian independent news outlet. “Exiled media are in an even more vulnerable position than others—we can’t monetize our audience, and crowdfunding has limits, especially when donations to Meduza are considered a crime in Russia.”

With the sudden freeze in U.S. funding, many media outlets and journalists now face an existential crisis. For those affected, securing alternative funding sources has become an urgent priority.