'It fell out of the sky': Cambodian journalists fear exile again as Trump defunds media agency

After spending seven years in hiding in Thailand, two Cambodian journalists who sought safety and purpose in the United States now find their futures hanging in the balance. Vuthy Tha and Hour Hum, both formerly with Radio Free Asia , came to the US on work visas last year, hoping to continue providing unbiased news coverage to audiences in Cambodia—where press freedom is severely restricted.

However, both reporters now fear for their jobs and immigration status following President Donald Trump's executive order that effectively dismantled the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which funds outlets like Radio Free Asia. The decision has sent shockwaves through the community of international journalists who rely on the agency's support to continue their reporting from exile.

“It fell out of sky,” said Vuthy, a single parent of two young children, expressing his shock at the sudden policy change. “I am very regretful that our listeners cannot receive the accurate news,” added Hour, who echoed similar concerns.

The situation for both men is particularly dire. Returning to Cambodia is not an option, as they believe their previous reporting has made them targets for political persecution in the one-party state. The Trump administration’s sweeping overhaul of federal institutions has already affected thousands of workers, but critics argue that the cuts to USAGM represent more than just bureaucratic reshuffling—they strike at the heart of America’s global soft power and its commitment to press freedom.

According to Reporters Without Borders, at least 84 USAGM journalists currently residing in the US on work visas could be subject to deportation. Alarmingly, at least 23 of them face what the organization describes as a "serious risk of being immediately arrested upon arrival and potentially imprisoned."

“It is outrageous that these journalists, who risk their lives to expose the extent of repression in their home countries, might be completely abandoned,” said Thibaut Bruttin, the group’s director general. “The US Congress must take responsibility for protecting these reporters and all USAGM-funded outlets, funded by Congress itself,” he urged. “This responsibility is not just moral — it stems from the United States’ commitment to defending the principles of democracy and press freedom.”

Advocacy groups are calling on lawmakers to intervene, but there has been no official response from either the Senate Foreign Relations Committee or the House Foreign Affairs Committee. The White House also declined to comment on the matter.

Meanwhile, the State Department acknowledged its ongoing coordination with USAGM regarding journalists detained abroad. It issued a statement reaffirming its opposition to the “unjust detentions of journalists for exercising their freedom of expression.”

Among the imprisoned reporters is Shin Daewe, affiliated with RFA, who is serving a 15-year sentence in Myanmar after being convicted of terrorism-related charges.

For Vuthy and Hour, the stakes couldn’t be higher. As they watch the system that once offered them protection begin to collapse, they’re left wondering whether their new home will continue to uphold the values it once inspired them to defend.