U.S. funding cut forces closure of Hungarian service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, raising fresh alarms over media freedom

Budapest — The final sign-off has been broadcast, and the airwaves of independent radio in Hungary have grown quieter. The Hungarian-language service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) officially ceased operations late this week, marking a significant moment in the country’s contested media landscape.

RFE/RL’s Hungarian service was relaunched in 2020 by its U.S.-funded parent organisation, the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), amid growing alarm in Washington and Brussels over what critics say has been a sustained erosion of press freedom under the government of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

That relaunch lasted five years. In a letter sent earlier this month, USAGM notified Congress of the termination of the service, citing shifts in U.S. foreign-policy priorities. The formal shutdown took effect on a Friday evening, with staff signing off after a final news bulletin and a brief farewell message to listeners.

For many in Budapest and beyond, the ending of the broadcast carries a symbolism that extends far beyond a single frequency on the dial.

An anchor of independent reporting
For decades during the Cold War, RFE/RL played a pivotal role in bringing uncensored news and analysis to audiences behind the Iron Curtain. When the Hungarian service was relaunched in the late 2010s, the move was widely seen as an acknowledgement that the gains of the post-communist transition were no longer taken for granted.

By the time the station returned, the media environment in Hungary had changed markedly. The country had already drawn criticism from the European Union and global press-freedom monitors for measures seen to restrict independent outlets, concentrate media ownership and bring state-aligned actors to dominate large swathes of the market.

RFE/RL’s Hungarian service tried to carve out a space in that landscape, offering investigations, interviews and fact-checking aimed at audiences seeking journalism independent of government control. Reporters focused on corruption, public spending, regional politics and social issues affecting everyday life, from health care to education and energy prices.

The station never reached the audience share enjoyed by large commercial broadcasters or state-aligned media, but its impact was felt through the stories it broke and the public debates it helped spark. Its presence, media analysts say, served as a reminder that Hungary remained on the radar of international institutions concerned with democratic backsliding.

Why funding ended
From the U.S. side, the decision to cut funding and shutter the Hungarian service appears tied to changes in how Washington views the role of international broadcasting, especially when directed at an EU member state. Officials argued that the broadcaster’s mission in Hungary was less urgent than in countries with more overt state censorship or in conflict zones, and that the taxpayer-funded model must be re-assessed.

At the same time, shifting foreign-policy priorities and budget constraints in Washington played a role. Advocates of the closure contend that scarce resources should be directed toward regions deemed more strategically fragile, such as parts of the former Soviet space, the Middle East or the Indo-Pacific.

Critics, however, warn that this reasoning overlooks the symbolic weight of stepping back from a member of both NATO and the EU. Hungary, they argue, has for years tested the limits of the bloc’s democratic norms, particularly in areas such as judicial independence, academic freedom and media pluralism. Withdrawing a high-profile independent broadcaster at this moment, they say, sends the wrong signal.

Impact on Hungary’s media landscape
For Hungary’s media environment, the shutdown of a service dedicated to independent journalism is both a practical and symbolic loss. While RFE/RL’s articles and audio content will remain accessible online, the presence of a dedicated Hungarian-language service with staff on the ground represented a visible demonstration of pluralism.

Radio, in particular, has historically been a powerful medium in Hungary, reaching listeners in small towns and rural areas where access to diverse news sources is more limited. The departure of a station known for critical reporting leaves more of that space to outlets aligned with, or dependent on, the government.

Hungarian media researchers note that in recent years, state-friendly business interests have consolidated a wide range of television, print and online outlets under umbrella organisations. Advertising spending from state institutions and state-owned companies has largely flowed toward those groups, making it harder for independent newsrooms to survive.

In that context, RFE/RL’s Hungarian service functioned as both a competitor and a partner to local independent media, sometimes co-producing investigations or amplifying their work for international audiences. Its closure, observers worry, will deepen the sense of isolation felt by journalists who already operate under intense political and economic pressure.

Reactions at home and abroad
News of the shutdown has brought a surge of reactions from journalists’ associations, civil-society organisations and political figures across Europe. Press-freedom advocates described the decision as a setback for media pluralism on the continent and called on both Washington and Brussels to step up support for independent reporting in Hungary by other means.

Within Hungary, opposition politicians and some independent commentators accused the government of quietly celebrating the development, suggesting that the loss of an international watchdog would remove an irritant. Officials close to the ruling party, however, maintained that the closure simply proves that foreign-funded broadcasters are not indispensable in a sovereign media market.

In its final broadcast, the Hungarian service thanked listeners, partner outlets and local journalists who had collaborated on stories over the years. Staff members spoke candidly about their mixed emotions: pride at the work accomplished, frustration at the circumstances of the closure, and concern about what it might mean for their profession.

Several journalists have indicated they intend to continue working in the country, either joining existing independent outlets or launching new projects online. Yet they acknowledge that doing so will be more difficult without the institutional backing and international visibility that RFE/RL provided.

A warning to other independent media
Beyond Hungary’s borders, the closure has been read as a cautionary tale for independent outlets reliant on foreign government funding. While such support can be a lifeline in restrictive environments, it can also prove vulnerable to political shifts in donor countries.

Media experts point out that as governments re-evaluate their information strategies, broadcasters and newsrooms need to diversify their funding sources to avoid sudden shocks. At the same time, they argue, democratic states should be wary of retreating from commitments to free media at a moment when authoritarian narratives are gaining strength globally.

The question now is whether new forms of support—whether from European institutions, private foundations or audience memberships—can fill the gap left by the departure of RFE/RL’s Hungarian service. Some initiatives already under way aim to bolster cross-border investigative collaborations and provide legal and security assistance to reporters facing intimidation or lawsuits.

What remains for Hungarian audiences
For listeners and readers in Hungary, the practical consequences of the shutdown will become clearer over the coming months. Some may notice little difference, especially those who primarily rely on social media or domestic television for news. Others, particularly long-time followers of the station, say they feel a sense of loss, describing the broadcaster as a trusted voice in an increasingly polarised environment.

In the short term, archives of reports, podcasts and video features will stay available on the broadcaster’s website and platforms. Former staff members have encouraged audiences to continue following independent outlets that partner with them or share similar editorial principles.

Yet the absence of a live Hungarian radio service with a clearly recognised brand, a newsroom in Budapest and correspondents across the country means fewer avenues for real-time independent reporting. Media-watch groups warn that this could further erode the diversity of viewpoints in Hungary’s public sphere.

Looking ahead
As Hungary moves deeper into another political cycle, the struggle over the country’s media landscape is unlikely to abate. Court battles, regulatory disputes and ownership changes continue to shape who gets heard and who remains on the margins.

The closure of the Hungarian service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty is one chapter in that broader story, but for many it feels like a turning point. It underscores the fragility of institutional safeguards for independent journalism and the extent to which they depend on political will, at home and abroad.

For those who grew up hearing RFE/RL as a crackling signal of dissent during an earlier era, the latest silence on the airwaves carries an uneasy echo. Whether new voices can rise to fill the gap—and whether they will be allowed to thrive—remains an open question for Hungary’s democracy and for the broader European project.