We are former officials and professionals associated with the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), now the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM). We offer this statement in strong support of continued U.S. government–funded international broadcasting.

For decades, Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) provided truthful news and moral support to millions of people living under communist rule. Their broadcasts helped sustain hope, defend human dignity, and contributed to the peaceful collapse of Soviet domination in East Central Europe.

When wisely managed and protected from partisan U.S. politics and foreign influence, U.S. international broadcasting remains a vital instrument of national security and a powerful defender of fundamental human rights. Independent journalism, rooted in facts and professional standards, is essential in countering authoritarian propaganda and informing audiences in closed or repressive societies.

For these reasons, we believe that U.S. international broadcasting deserves strong, bipartisan support from both Congress and the Administration. Its mission is not partisan, but national—and its value has been proven by history.

Signed,

Amb. Victor Ashe, former Governor of the U.S. Broadcasting Board of Governors

Blanquita Cullum, former Governor of the U.S. Broadcasting Board of Governors

Ted Lipien, former RFE/RL President, VOA Acting Associate Director, Polish Service Chief