Amicus briefs in support of VOA
Updated August 27, 2026
More than 85 individuals or organizations signed on to documents filed at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in support of the effort to return VOA to its role as a global broadcaster. They include high-ranking former U.S. officials, prominent dissidents who listen to VOA, and press freedom organizations.
Brief of former United States military leaders, ambassadors, and diplomatic officials (July 22, 2025)
Fifty-four former U.S. officials, including 25 former senior military officials, sign an amicus brief in support of VOA and its mission. The brief says that these officials are “united in their view that VOA has served and advanced American foreign policy goals, supported the spread of democracy, and provided a model of freedom and truth to people around the world.”
Click on the outlined experts to see a video of them speaking about the value of VOA. More than 125 other U.S. military leaders, ambassadors, experts and journalists have also given video testimonials in support of VOA’s mission. | Explore all the videos.
Brief of former directors of Voice of America (July 22, 2025)
Former VOA directors ‘have heard what the Voice of America can tell the freedom-loving people of the world: The truth matters. They have an interest that America continue to broadcast that message.’ With bipartisan support, VOA could ‘advance American national security interests immeasurably, in reaching those who often would otherwise have no way of knowing what was happening around the world, or even in their own countries.’
Brief of former U.S. foreign policy and national security officials and other experts on public diplomacy (July 22, 2025)
Brief of The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, Committee to Protect Journalists, Pen America, Press Freedom Center at the National Press Club and Society of Professional Journalists (July 22, 2025)
Five press freedom organizations file an amicus brief in support of VOA, citing their ‘powerful interest in ensuring that the constitutional rights of all journalists … are not infringed’ including for reporters at USAGM networks. VOA and its sister networks ‘can accomplish their goals only if they maintain meaningful independence—both actual independence and the perception of it—from political control.’