Stars and Stripes may lose its funding.

Yes, Stars and Stripes, the publication that has told the American soldier’s story for generations, from the wry “Willie and Joe” cartoons of World War II, to grunt-level combat coverage in Vietnam, to today’s outstanding reporting on the coronavirus threat at bases around the world, could cease publication.

The Pentagon wants to shut down this independent news organization that serves our troops.

The Fiscal Year 2021 Defense budget of $705.4 billion submitted to Congress eliminates Stars and Stripes’ roughly $15.5 million appropriation. That would do lasting harm far beyond any meaningful savings.

For American war fighters, Stars and Stripes has served as a little piece of home, a welcome diversion, and most importantly, a guarantee of the free flow of reliable news that arms those who defend democracy to exercise their own rights of citizenship. Stripes' unusual First Amendment mission is also a visible expression of America’s democratic values — a demonstration that our military can handle scrutiny from a free press. Other countries' military may have comparable operations, but I don't know of any.

My job as ombudsman for Stars and Stripes is to hold the newsroom accountable to journalism values, such as accuracy and fairness. And to protect the independent newsroom from censorship or command interference. What could be a graver threat to that independence, a more complete censorship or a clearer example of top-down interference than wiping out the appropriation that makes Stars and Stripes’ mission possible?

That mission is to provide service members, dependents and Department of Defense civilians overseas an independent, credible source of U.S. and international news, emphasizing what’s relevant to the military community. With strong, bipartisan support historically from Congress, Stripes’ charge is to inform readers impartially, not promoting or shielding the views of any command, party or administration.

Stars and Stripes’ origin dates to the Civil War, but it is a contemporary news operation — print, web, mobile, social, e-newsletters, podcasts and all. Like a hometown news organization is tailored to its community but takes in the world, Stripes is tailored to its readers. Military news is front and center, especially original reporting by Stripes staff, but it includes wire service coverage of national and international news, entertainment, sports and even comics.

Also like a hometown news organization, revenue from advertising and subscriptions funds roughly half of Stripes’ operations. But no profit-driven business model could support some of its mission — especially delivering the news and reporting in distant, often dangerous places where troops are deployed. Where there is greatest need, there is greatest difficulty — and greatest expense. Pentagon funding fills that gap.

Of Stars and Stripes’ appropriation this year, about half covers reporting, printing and distribution in downrange locations such as Afghanistan, Iraq, the Persian Gulf and the horn of Africa. Or to serve troops expanding into Poland and Romania. Outside of work areas, Internet access can be poor, and sometimes troops can’t bring personal mobile devices. The rest of the appropriation supports core news gathering and distribution, including at posts too remote or too small to be a market for advertisers, such as Guam and Diego Garcia.

For all of those, and for service members, dependents and civilians in Western Europe, Japan, Korea, Australia, Africa, at sea and across the globe, Stars and Stripes remains today a welcome link to home, a trustworthy news source, and a valuable benefit to their informed participation in the democracy they defend.

But for how long?

Congress should tell Pentagon leadership now to reverse its plan to defund Stars and Stripes and stop any effort to diminish its operations even before the FY21 budget takes effect. Then, as it writes its own version of the budget, Congress should restore the $15.5 million appropriation, reinforce Stripes’ First Amendment value and make funding for its unique mission ironclad.

Ernie Gates is the independent ombudsman for Stars and Stripes Newspapers. He worked as a reporter and editor for more than 30 years in Virginia, where he lives today.