Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty to halt Bulgarian and Romanian services amid U.S. funding freeze

The Bulgarian service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty will cease operations on 31 March due to a lack of U.S. funding, according to staff members and public statements by company executives, marking a new chapter in the uncertainty surrounding the U.S.-funded broadcaster’s presence in Central and Eastern Europe. The Romanian service will also shut down on the same date.

The decision follows last year’s move by U.S. President Donald Trump to freeze funding for the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), the federal body that oversees American international broadcasting. The funding suspension formed part of a broader campaign to reduce government spending and affected several U.S.-backed outlets.

In a message published on X, RFE/RL President and CEO Stephen Capus confirmed that the Bulgarian and Romanian services would close, citing continuing budgetary challenges. The decision, he wrote, was not taken lightly. He praised the “steadfast, balanced journalism” produced by the two teams since their return in 2019 and thanked them for their dedication to audiences over the past seven years.

The Bulgarian newsroom employs around 15 journalists. Its video content frequently attracts tens of thousands of views on social media platforms, reflecting the outlet’s digital-first strategy since its relaunch. The Bulgarian service resumed operations in 2019 after a 15-year hiatus, while the Romanian-language service returned the same year following an 11-year break.

Ivan Bedrov, editor-in-chief of the Bulgarian service, sought to reassure audiences that the closure does not necessarily mean a complete end to the journalistic project. “We are not parting,” he said in a public message, adding that the team is working actively to continue providing “accurate and understandable news on all platforms” beyond 31 March. He thanked readers and viewers for their trust and pledged that the team would inform the public about its next steps.

A source from the Bulgarian newsroom, speaking anonymously pending an official announcement, also told AFP that efforts were under way to find a solution that would allow the team to continue serving its audience.

In Romania, Elena Vijulie Tănase, director of the local service, described the development as “bad news – and not only for me and my colleagues”, confirming the closure date. The reaction from press freedom advocates was swift. Reporters Without Borders expressed regret over the shutdowns, warning that they would negatively affect citizens’ right to reliable information, particularly in Bulgaria, where independent media remain limited in number.

The Bulgarian and Romanian services are among the first established after RFE/RL’s creation in 1950. During the Cold War, the broadcaster played a central role in transmitting uncensored information across the Iron Curtain. Partially funded by the CIA until the early 1970s, it faced systematic jamming attempts and harassment of journalists by communist authorities. In both Bulgaria and Romania, its programming became synonymous with alternative news sources at a time of strict state control.

The recent closures add to earlier reductions elsewhere. In November, the Hungarian service of RFE/RL announced it would cease operations following a decision by USAGM. At the time, the Trump administration said it would close “Szabad Europa” at the request of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán during a visit to Washington, arguing that the broadcaster’s activities did not align with U.S. national interests.

USAGM holds a contractual relationship with RFE/RL, which operates as a private organisation tasked with producing and distributing media content. This arrangement meant that while USAGM could immediately halt operations of outlets it directly owns, such as Voice of America and other platforms targeting Cuba and Asia, it was required to fulfil contractual obligations toward RFE/RL before terminating support.

The financial uncertainty prompted diplomatic and political initiatives in Europe. The Czech Republic, which hosts RFE/RL’s headquarters, launched an initiative within the EU to support the broadcaster. In early May, Sweden donated 20 million Swedish kronor (around $2 million) in support of Radio Svoboda. By the end of May, the EU agreed to provide emergency funding to help sustain parts of RFE/RL’s operations.

However, a full legal and financial transfer of the entire network to EU funding remains complex. As long as RFE/RL continues to operate under arrangements linked to the U.S. government, structural and legal obstacles persist. Moreover, there is no unanimous agreement among all 27 EU member states that multi-million-euro funding for the broadcaster should be assumed by European taxpayers.

One of the issues discussed in recent months concerns the preservation of RFE/RL’s extensive archive, which contains decades of reporting and historical material. For many observers, the archive represents not only a journalistic database but also a documentary record of political transitions in the region.

Sources: BGNES, Segabg.com, Dnevnik.bg

Caption: The Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty sign is displayed at its headquarters in Prague, Czech Republic, 27 March 2025. JudgeÂ Royce C. Lamberth of the US District Court for the District of Columbia issued a preliminary injunction on 25 March suspending the US administration’s efforts to cut off funding to Prague-based Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), granted from the US Congress. EPA/MARTIN DIVISEK