1. United States
2. Texas
3. Letter

It is deeply concerning that President Trump has signed an executive order calling for the dismantling of the federal agency overseeing Voice of America. For over 80 years, VOA has played a vital role in promoting democracy, transparency, and access to reliable information worldwide, often in nations where free press is limited. Silencing VOA's broadcasts deprives people across the globe of an important counter-narrative to state propaganda and censorship. The abrupt removal of hundreds of VOA journalists, executives and employees from their roles is an assault on press freedoms that undermines America's position as a champion of free speech. With VOA's operations crippled, many of its radio frequencies have already gone dark or been reduced to playing music, while affiliates in various countries now lack U.S.-sourced content to balance reporting from state media outlets like Russia's and China's. Dismantling this respected institution deals a devastating blow to global audiences seeking truthful, unbiased news from the United States. I urge you to take immediate action to protect Voice of America's independence and ability to fulfill its congressionally mandated mission of delivering accurate news and information abroad. Preserving VOA is crucial for upholding democratic values and America's standing on the world stage.