WASHINGTON — Multiple witnesses at a Senate subcommittee hearing on July 22 warned that proposed reductions to U.S. democracy and human‑rights funding and the end of Radio Free Asia’s Cantonese service have left a reporting gap on Hong Kong and undercut U.S. influence.

“Radio Free Asia has become one of the few sources that kept on reporting about what has been developing inside of Hong Kong,” Joy Hsu said, calling the Cantonese service “a beacon of independent media.” She testified that RFA’s Cantonese audience reached about 1.2 million online readers before the service ceased.

Ranking Member Kaine and witnesses expressed concern about the proposed 2026 U.S. budget, which the panel referenced as cutting an estimated 82% of funding for global media efforts in one account introduced at the hearing. Sophie Richardson and Olivia Enos both told senators that cuts to the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) and related grant programs would hobble long‑term democracy promotion and monitoring.

Why it matters: Witnesses said that without independent outlets and funded civil‑society programs, the United States will have less reliable information about developments in Hong Kong and reduced ability to counter disinformation. Olivia Enos recommended Congress oppose funding cuts and urged continued appropriations for RFA, VOA and other China‑focused services to restore reporting in Cantonese, Uighur and Tibetan languages.

Discussion vs. decision: Witnesses urged sustaining or restoring appropriations; the subcommittee did not vote on budget language at the hearing.

Ending: Senators left the record open for reports and asked witnesses to submit further documentation on media‑service reach and program funding needs.