Presidential Overreach – Protect the Integrity of VOA and Public Broadcasting

I am writing to express my deep concern regarding President Trump’s reported efforts to unilaterally cut staff and funding at Voice of America (VOA) and other public broadcasting entities. Such actions not only threaten press freedom but also raise serious legal and constitutional questions about executive overreach. VOA has long been a trusted source of independent journalism, providing factual reporting to audiences worldwide. By attempting to gut its operations without congressional approval, the administration is undermining both the First Amendment and the legislative branch’s power of the purse. Congress alone has the constitutional authority to allocate funding, and any attempt to bypass this process is an attack on our democratic institutions. If the president can arbitrarily dismantle government-funded media organizations that provide objective news, what stops him from silencing other outlets that do not align with his agenda? This is authoritarian behavior, not democratic governance. I urge you to stand against this blatant abuse of power by: 1. Demanding transparency—requiring a full explanation of any staffing or funding cuts. 2. Blocking any executive attempt to defund or interfere with the editorial independence of VOA and similar organizations. 3. Holding hearings to investigate whether this move is politically motivated. If the president is allowed to take such drastic actions unchecked, we risk setting a dangerous precedent for the future of press freedom in the United States. Congress must act now to defend democracy and uphold its constitutional role. I look forward to your response on what steps you will take to protect VOA and prevent this presidential overreach.