On 13th March 2025, US government funding of media outlets such as Radio Free Asia (RFA) and Voice of America (VOA) , which broadcasts in nine Asian languages, was terminated on Saturday, March 15, 2025. As the RFA themselves reported:
“An executive order issued by U.S. President Donald Trump late Friday calls for the reduction of non-statutory components of the United States Agency for Global Media, or USAGM, the federal agency that funds RFA and several other independent global news organizations. The U.S. Congress appropriates funds to USAGM, which disburses the monies to the grantee news outlets.”
“In a post on Facebook, VOA Director Michael Abramowitz wrote: “I learned this morning that virtually the entire staff of Voice of America—more than 1300 journalists, producers and support staff—has been placed on administrative leave today. So have I.”
This politico-economic move clearly signals a change in approach to media resources on Asia funded by the US, in particular that of Tibetan exiles based in India and the USA, as I detail here below.
Voice of America/RFA: independent Tibetan exile or Gelug-sectarian news?
For many not familiar with VOA and RFA, aside from news on Asia in general, they are also often used as the media/PR mouthpiece for English language “news” on Tibetan exile administration and Tibet, coming out of the Department for Information and International Relations in Dharamsala. However, on closer inspection, particularly over the last thirty years or so, it has become more a mouthpiece and PR outlet for “news” about the 14th Dalai Lama activities and statements, and very Gelug-sectarian biased. Despite the fact that the 14th Dalai Lama abdicated all political responsibility for Tibet in 2012, and states it is now a sectarian democracy.
In relation to Tibetan exile news there are very few, if any, stories about the activities of the other main lineage heads from the various Kagyu lineages, Nyingma, J0nang, Sakya and so on. In particular, related to the ongoing absence of the 17th Karmapa from Rumtek Monastery, Sikkim, since he bravely escaped from Tibet in 2000.
US government funding for “independent” media outlets?
In any case, some might be surprised to read that US taxpayer money was funding an institution who represent the voices and interests of people outside of the US. Also, one might question the validity and independence of a media outlet that is funded by a government too. How can any media be genuinely independent of that government’s influence?
For example, the BBC are funded by a public (and non-compulsory) licence fee paid for by all British citizens who wish to watch their TV and radio output, however, that is transparent to all and the BBC are supposed to be completely independent of any government interference or bias. However, if the UK government were giving them grants, there would no doubt be accusations of potential bias.
Funding issues in general and academic and intellectual independence and freedom of speech
On a more general note, there are issues with who funds what and how that effects the ability for people working in those institutions or recipients of the funding to be genuinely independent and free of bias and having to satisfy/keep happy the interests/people giving the funds.
For example, as I found out myself with the sudden removal of my second year of Ashoka Grant funding by the Khyentse Foundation on the basis of a single unverified email (by the organisation of the teacher being exposed for sexual misconduct), once one criticises those giving the money in any way, or acts in ways that might be seen as contrary to the the donor’s ideas of how and what should be done or said, those funds quickly “dry up” and stop. Although funding of Dharma activities has lots of merit and value, the domination of Khyentse Foundation as a funding body has led myself (and others) to question whether it threatens the’independence’ of those funded by them (particularly those who do not follow or support their Buddhist teacher figurehead, Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche.
Change in US and Indian government policy on Tibetan exile politics?
Also, perhaps the anti-China statements and sentiment of these media outlets are really doing the US government any favours any more, and may even be harming global geo-political stability. Just as the use of Nancy Pelosi and the 14th Dalai Lama is harming geopolitics and stability and peace between India and China.
Since October 2023, and the ‘overbearing’ actions of the 14th Dalai Lama towards the Indian boy caused international outrage (particularly in India itself), combined with a fatigue and weariness of the Gelugpa sectarianism bias of Tibetan politics in Dharamsala, and the rest of India, when it comes to Tibetan Buddhism, there has also been a significant “frostiness” in relations with the Indian Prime Minister, Modi. One Indian government official stated “off the record” that the 14th Dalai Lama is being treated in a much less VIP way than before, and “enters through the back door” to meet the Prime Minister Modi, who has not met the 14th Dalai Lama publicly since that incident.
Although there have been reports of the 14th Dalai Lama being recently awarded Z level security by the Indian government, when I asked someone why and what this meant in reality, they said there have been more “death threats” issued against the 14th Dalai Lama in recent years, but also it meant the Indian government themselves were able to watch him and his associates more closely. In any case, it hard to believe that the 14th Dalai Lama, said to be a great and fearless Bodhisattva by those who follow him, would request the presence of 24 or more armed security guards, day and night, right?
In any case, the 14th Dalai Lama’s political (and worldly) remarks on video here (even if correct), stating that Donald Trump lacks moral principle, combined with Nancy Pelosi’s recent incendiary comments about the Chinese leader, will not have given the Dalai Lama-Gelugpas (and by proxy Tibetan exiles) any real benefit in terms of good diplomatic relations. “Do not bite the hand that feeds you” as the saying goes!
Personal observations: Trump not “all bad” and “lacking in moral principle” as the Dalai Lama stated?
I am neither a right-winger generally, nor a fan of Trump’s communication style, or interested in US politics at all. Being a Brit (and Buddhist) worldly politics is not something I spend a lot of time thinking or reading about (it is endless samsara and the change has to come from within!).
However, I could not help but notice that this latest “shutdown” move against government funded and biased media, as well as Trump’s visible promotions of middle-aged, highly qualified (and physically attractive) women to very senior posts in US government (and other statements that support the welfare, bodies, and rights of biological women), all suggest that Trump is not entirely without wisdom, and is trying to support and benefit the welfare and rights of women in a way.
Some “woke” types, who refuse to see anything “good” in Trump, even cynically suggest that such promotions of highly qualifed and intelligent women is just “performative” (their word). If true, and Trump is still a misogynist at heart, I would still much rather see that “performance” of promoting middle-aged talented women, than the dismal and depressing “performance” promoting nameless “young and pretty” dollybird women MCs at Karma Kagyu Vinaya breaking concerts in 2018 curated by Tibetan Buddhist men/monks, many of whom also enjoy spending significant amounts of time in the USA, right?
In fact, Trump’s pushing back against the “fascist” political correct liberal types on the Left, whose main goal seems to be stifling free dissent, opinion, humour and more in the name of “not offending people’s feelings”. Trump might be many things that are leaving a lot to be desired, but at least his communication has a more “honest” tone and courage to it, that the “woke” politically correct types often so “seriously” lack.
In any case, as I wrote in The Mongolian-Gelug shadow over Tibet: Six decades of failed US-Gelug policy (August 2024), the US-Gelug policy on Tibet over the past six decades has been a failure and not produced any change or ‘softening’ of stance from the Chinese government on the “Dalai Lama clique”. And nor will it. The karmic consequences of what the Gelugpas did for three hundred years in Tibet with absolute spiritual and political rule violently handed to them by first the Mongolian army invaders, then by the Chinese Qing dynasty, are equally severe indeed. Sadly, for ordinary Tibetans they are also all paying the price of that religious and intellectual domination, censorship and suppression (as well as misuse of Vajrayana Tantras and mass empowerments of Kalacakra for political power reasons) by the Gelugpas, with the Dalai Lama as their spiritual and politically appointed head.
As a long-time friend, ally and observer living in the community of Tibetan exiles in India, I end with this loving suggestion. Maybe, instead of constantly blaming and complaining about non-Tibetan foreigners, white people, Trump, the Indian government and Chinese spies, it is really time for Tibetans themselves to reflect on their own words and actions more and the direction they are still heading in politically. Perhaps it is time they need to change their perceptions, and whom they view as the “spiritual and political”leaders of Tibetans in exile?
Music? A Change is Gonna Come by Sam Cooke.
Written by Adele Tomlin, March 24th 2025.
Reading/Sources
14th Dalai Lama video clip interview (2020): “Trump has lack of moral principle”
RFA operations may cease following federal grants termination, RFA (15th March 2025)
Tomlin, Adele:
The Mongolian-Gelug shadow over Tibet: Six decades of failed US-Gelug policy (August 2024)
THE MONGOLIAN-GELUG SHADOW OVER TIBET: Six decades of failed US-Gelug policy
KĀLACAKRA AND THE DALAI LAMAS/GELUGPA. The 20th Century/Chinese communist roots of mass Kālacakra empowerments; the 9th Panchen Lama and Chinese support for the first public empowerments , the 14th Dalai Lama’s takeover of Kālacakra in Tibet and exile, inappropriate timing of the empowerments and the Gelugpa’s mass suppression of other lineages and texts
Lam, Raymond (April 2023) His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama: No one is sucking anyone’s tongue
Adele, the previous Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche gave the Kalachakra Empowerment at the largest stadium in Canada…
Yes, and your point is? He was simply following the tradition started by the 9th Panchen Lamas and Dalai Lama, who used mass Kalacakra empowerments for political and social power. They were never intended to be given en masse like that to so many unqualified people.
Gelug is keeping Tibetans back from any real progress. I hope their influence and power diminishes, as it wasn’t fairly or justly gained – and has no real benefit today. I think we are long past due for a new wave of changes in the way how system of Tibetan Buddhism works.