Chinese state media has reacted with glee as President Donald Trump dismantles Voice of America (VOA).Why It MattersPresident Donald Trump signed an executive order Sunday to close down U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees VOA, Radio Free Asia, and other federally funded media organizations. "Taxpayers are no longer on the hook for radical propaganda," said a White House statement that included a list of allegations of anti-American bias.The move to shut down VOA, Radio Free Asia, and other federally funded news agencies affects media outlets that, for decades, have countered authoritarian narratives and amplified opposition voices.Newsweek reached out to the Chinese Foreign Ministry and White House by email with requests for comment.What To KnowLaunched in 1942 in response to Nazi propaganda, VOA, which primarily reaches audiences through radio, broadcasts in 48 languages to an estimated weekly audience of more than 300 million people in over 100 countries.Critics of the shutdown say it plays into the hands of authoritarian governments by silencing a major U.S. international broadcaster.The Chinese government tightly controls media and speech deemed to be critical of its policies and has a long track record of imprisoning or disappearing those who cross it. This makes it difficult to report on sensitive issues within the country."The so-called beacon of freedom, VOA, has now been discarded by its own government like a dirty rag," the editorial staff of Chinese state media outlet the Global Times said in a commentary.The authors went on to list what they called the news agency's "appalling track record" of coverage. These included human rights issues in Xinjiang, an autonomous territory in northwest China; Chinese territorial disputes in the South China Sea; and Taiwan's perspective—the self-ruled island Beijing says must be unified with the mainland, through force if necessary.Other contentious topics included the 2019 pro-democracy "rioters" who clashed with police in Hong Kong; COVID-19's origins; and accusations of China's industrial overcapacity that have spurred many countries to slap tariffs on low-cost Chinese products."Almost every malicious falsehood about China has VOA's fingerprints all over it," the Global Times wrote.In Russia, propagandists for Vladimir Putin also praised Trump's order, with TV presenter Vladimir Solovyov calling for independent journalist "traitors" to "die in a ditch."What People Are SayingMichael Sobolik, senior fellow at the Hudson Institute think tank, told Newsweek: "Every administration is entitled to review federal programs and bring them into alignment with the president's priorities and the national interest. But axing VOA and RFA goes well beyond that."DOGE continues to throw the baby out with the bathwater, and it's hurting U.S. foreign policy. RFA in particular was a valuable source of information inside China for policymakers. The Chinese Communist Party is rejoicing at RFA's demise. Whenever your adversary applauds you, stop and reassess."Kari Lake, Trump-appointed USAGM senior adviser, wrote in a statement Saturday: "This agency is not salvageable. From top-to-bottom, this agency is a giant rot and burden to the American taxpayer—a national security risk for this nation—and irretrievably broken. While there are bright spots within the agency with personnel who are talented and dedicated public servants, this is the exception rather than the rule."What Happens NextReporters Without Borders Director General Thibaut Bruttin has warned shuttering USAGM agencies sends a "chilling signal" that will leave Chinese and Russian state actors to "spread their propaganda unchecked."The move also jeopardizes nine journalists imprisoned for their reporting and leaves thousands more not only unemployed but also at risk of retribution for their past work, Bruttin added.