February 8, 2025 | 05:29 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Reporters Without Borders (RSF) revealed that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) provided funding to 6,200 journalists, 707 non-state media outlets, and 279 media-focused NGOs across more than 30 countries in 2023.
RSF cited a now-deleted fact sheet, as reported by Anadolu on Friday, stating the U.S. foreign aid budget for 2025 allocates US$268.4 million to support "independent media and free flow of information."
USAID has used these funds to train and support efforts to "strengthen independent media," including major media organizations, smaller media sources, and individual journalists working under "repressive conditions."
RSF highlighted USAID's significant role as a donor to independent media in Ukraine, where nine out of ten outlets depend on international subsidies. They emphasized the need for US$96 million over three years to rebuild Ukraine's independent media landscape, which has been weakened by the ongoing war.
However, U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to freeze billions in global aid, including media funding, has created confusion and uncertainty among affected organizations, RSF stated.
They noted that several Ukrainian outlets have announced the suspension of their operations and are searching for alternative funding, warning this could lead to sources that might jeopardize editorial independence.
RSF condemned the aid freeze, declaring it has plunged NGOs, media outlets, and journalists into "chaotic uncertainty," and called on international public and private entities to commit to the sustainability of independent media.
According to Reuters, this major Washington humanitarian aid agency has become a target of a government reorganization program initiated by billionaire Elon Musk.
Trump and Musk have made false accusations, alleging that USAID staff are criminals. Dozens of USAID staff have been forced to take leave. Hundreds of internal contractors have been terminated, creating uncertainty for life-saving programs worldwide.
The government announced on Tuesday that all directly recruited USAID employees worldwide would be placed on leave and are summoning back thousands of personnel working abroad.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated the government is identifying and designating programs to be exempt from this massive job termination, as the U.S. seeks ways to stop disease spread, prevent starvation, and reduce poverty. USAID implementing partners are experiencing financial hardship due to this order.
The government's goal is to merge USAID with the State Department led by Rubio, who was appointed by Trump as the acting USAID administrator. However, whether this merger will be possible without Congressional approval is unclear, as USAID was established and funded by existing law.
The Congressional Research Service (CRS) reports that USAID employs over 10,000 people worldwide, with two-thirds based outside the United States. The agency managed over US$40 billion in the 2023 fiscal year.
Sources familiar with the agency's situation said that some workers have begun receiving termination notices.
The USAID website states that, as of midnight on Friday, February 7, all directly recruited USAID personnel worldwide will be placed on administrative leave, with exceptions for designated staff responsible for critical functions, core leadership, and specifically designated programs.
In 2023, USAID provided assistance to approximately 130 countries, many experiencing conflict and extreme poverty. According to a CRS report, the largest aid recipients are Ukraine, followed by Ethiopia, Jordan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, Yemen, and Afghanistan.
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