Elon Musk, overseeing budget cuts during the Trump administration, labeled RFE/RL as "radical left crazy people talking to themselves while torching $1B/year of US taxpayer money." In contrast, RFE/RL’s president Stephen Capus condemned the funding cut, warning that it would greatly benefit America's adversaries, including the Iranian regime, Chinese leadership, and autocrats in Russia and Belarus. The independent Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) also expressed concern, stating that the funding cut threatens the livelihoods of numerous journalists, particularly those working in oppressive regimes where they already face serious risks.

RFE/RL claims a weekly listenership of nearly 50 million across 23 countries, including significant audiences in Russia, Ukraine, Iran, and Afghanistan. In response to the funding cuts, Lipavsky announced plans to confer with fellow EU foreign ministers on measures to preserve RFE/RL’s broadcasting capabilities. The agency has heavily relied on the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM) for funding, but the funding ceased in light of an executive order signed by Trump that followed Musk's calls to "shut them down." This stands in stark contrast to the strategies of Russia, China, and Iran, which have invested heavily in their state-controlled media to counter Western influence and narrative. Meanwhile, the Voice of America (VOA) is also facing significant turmoil, with many staff members placed on administrative leave due to funding issues.