Restore VOA's Independence and Funding to Uphold America's Soft Power

The recent federal court ruling against Kari Lake's attempts to unilaterally fire the director of Voice of America (VOA) underscores the critical need for Congress to reassert its authority over this vital institution. As your constituent, I urge you to take immediate action to reinstate VOA staff and fully fund this independent news source, which is crucial to America's soft power globally. The judge's decision highlights the illegality of Lake's actions, emphasizing that she requires explicit backing from a Congressionally-established advisory panel to make such personnel changes. This panel, designed to insulate VOA from political pressure, has been effectively neutralized by the current administration's failure to appoint new members after dismissing six of the seven existing panelists. Under Lake's leadership, VOA has been severely diminished, with most language services eliminated and the majority of its workforce laid off or placed on leave. This gutting of VOA directly contradicts the Congressional mandate that it "serve as a consistently reliable and authoritative source of news" abroad. The attempted reassignment of VOA Director Michael Abramowitz to a shortwave radio facility further demonstrates the administration's disregard for VOA's journalistic independence. The court's rejection of arguments about executive powers and the constitutionality of the law protecting VOA's independence reaffirms Congress's role in shaping this institution. It is now imperative that you and your colleagues act decisively to restore VOA's capabilities and safeguard its mission. I implore you to introduce or support legislation that will: 1. Fully reinstate VOA staff and restore eliminated language services 2. Allocate comprehensive funding to rebuild VOA's global reach 3. Strengthen the advisory panel's role in protecting VOA from political interference 4. Reaffirm VOA's mandate as an independent, reliable news source By taking these steps, Congress can ensure that VOA continues to serve as a powerful tool of American soft power, promoting democratic values and providing accurate information to audiences worldwide. The integrity of our nation's global voice hangs in the balance, and your leadership on this issue is crucial.