Radio Free Asia | The NewsGuild

Newsletter: Susan DeCarava of NewsGuild of New York makes history

Radio Free Asia may soon be getting its Congressionally-mandated funding [again]. Late Wednesday the full bench of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit lifted a stay that had blocked a preliminary injunction ordering the U.S. Agency for Global Media to distribute Congressionally mandated funds to grantees including Radio Free Asia, Radio Free Europe and others. We’ve got about 100 members at Radio Free Asia and the vast majority were furloughed in March after President Trump signed an executive order essentially shuttering the agency and several newsrooms.

Radio Free Asia Guild members pose for a photo with Representative Hayley Stevens on Capitol Hill while advocating for continued funding of the news service.

Radio Free Asia members urge Congress to work with President Trump to restore funding and protect press freedom abroad

Guild members at Radio Free Asia advocated on Capitol Hill for Congress to work with President Trump to fully restore Radio Free Asia (RFA), which was effectively shut down earlier this year following sweeping cuts to the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM). The closure has left dozens of journalists without jobs and has silenced a critical voice for press freedom abroad.

DC Circuit Court overturns stay, orders restoration of funding to Radio Free Asia

Late last night, the full bench of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit lifted a stay that had blocked a preliminary injunction ordering the U.S. Agency for Global Media to distribute Congressionally mandated funds to grantees including Radio Free Asia, Radio Free Europe and others.

Newsletter: Two legal victories, one powerful May Day.

The Third Circuit Court of Appeals denied two motions by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Tuesday that would’ve delayed a rare injunction our members won after 30 months on strike. The ruling from the court lets stand an injunction that requires the company to restore pre-2020 health care coverage, bargain in good faith and submit updates on the status of bargaining to the National Labor Relations Board.

Newsletter: Nexstar fired a journalist at The Hill to appease Trump

We’ve had a packed couple of weeks!

On Friday U.S. District Court Judge Royce C. Lamberth extended the temporary restraining order in our lawsuit against the U.S. Agency for Global Media, Kari Lake and Victor Morales. Last month the Trump administration attempted to shutter the agency, which makes sure news is broadcast into countries controlled by repressive regimes. Voice of America, Radio Free Asia, Radio Free Europe and other newsrooms were immediately impacted. But Congress funds these news organizations and they re-upped that support last month in the latest continuing resolution to fund the U.S. government.

Victory for Press Freedom and Workers: Court Grants Preliminary Injunction to Protect the U.S. Agency for Global Media

April 22, 2025

WASHINGTON—Today, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia granted a preliminary injunction in Widakuswara v. Lake, affirming the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) was unlawfully shuttered by the administration, Acting Director Victor Morales and Special Adviser Kari Lake. The decision enshrines that USAGM must fulfill its legally required functions and protects the editorial independence of Voice of America (VOA) journalists and other federal media professionals within the agency and newsrooms that receive grants from the agency, such as Radio Free Asia and others.

Newsletter: Pittsburgh strikers are closer than ever to winning their strike

I just got back from a rally in front of the Washington Post because…

The Post’s tech workers just announced they’re unionizing! More than 300 workers across engineering, product design and data have formed the Washington Post Tech Guild are seeking voluntary recognition from the company. Represented by the Washington-Baltimore News Guild and supported by the CODE-CWA campaign, they’re organizing to win equity, transparency and a voice in their workplace.

VIDEO: Voice of America Journalists Hold Press Conference on Trump’s Attacks on Free Press

March 23, 2025 – Voice of America, Radio Free Asia, The NewsGuild-CWA, & AFSCME held a press conference outside of the Southern District Court of New York, where a joint lawsuit was filed Friday seeking a reversal of Trump’s order to slash funding.

Guild defends journalists targeted by Trump’s cuts to international newsrooms

The NewsGuild-CWA stands with the journalists and listeners affected by President Trump’s efforts to cut funding and sideline journalists who for decades have provided news to an international audience often living under repressive regimes.