1. United States
2. Ohio
3. Letter

US democracy promotion initiatives abroad are being severely undermined under the current administration. The Voice of America and other international broadcasters that provide uncensored news to millions have been effectively shut down. Offices focused on democracy and human rights at the State Department have been eliminated or restructured. Funding has been cut for organizations that bolster civil society and elections in unstable democracies. These actions represent a stark retrenchment from America's historical role as a leading advocate for democratic values worldwide. This retreat is concerning as it creates a vacuum that could accelerate anti-democratic trends globally. It emboldens authoritarian regimes seeking to control information flows and crack down on dissent. Moreover, it signals a profound shift in US priorities away from promoting representative governance as a stabilizing force.The implications are both moral, in abandoning America's rhetorical commitment to freedoms, and strategic, by ceding terrain to rivals like Russia and China in the ideological sphere. I urge you to use your influence to reverse course on these damaging policies. Robust funding and institutional support for democracy initiatives is crucial for upholding human rights, bolstering US soft power, and fostering more peaceful relations worldwide. America's position as a democratic exemplar and force for positive change should not be relinquished.