Sunday, June 15, 2025

USAGM Rushes to Bring Back VOA Persian Service

Employees of Voice of America's Persian-language service who were sidelined by the Trump administration have been hastily called back to duty as Iran and Israel exchange missile strikes in a high-stakes Middle East conflict. The U.S. Agency for Global Media told employees placed on administrative leave to immediately return to their roles providing counter-programming to Iranian state media as the conflict between the two nations escalated Friday, according to an email seen by POLITICO and three people familiar with the situation.

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There are 75 full time employees within VOA's Persian wing -- the language predominantly spoken in Iran -- and it's believed most, if not all, have now been brought back after being put on administrative leave for three months.

Comments

Excellent work, DOGE! /sarcasm

One of my favorite critiques of VOA is "Oh my, this is a state-sponsored media outlet. Why does the USA have such an organization?"
It is important to penetrate the media landscape in local languages to offer alternative perspectives on current events. This is doubly important in media-insular areas.

#1 | Posted by GOnoles92 at 2025-06-14 09:11 AM

Yet another event that makes TRUMP/MAGA look just as stupid as ----.

#2 | Posted by Zed at 2025-06-14 09:16 AM

Insular thinker like his constituency.

Who knew being president could be so complicated?

#3 | Posted by RightisTrite at 2025-06-15 08:51 AM

Fat Donnie ------

#4 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2025-06-15 10:53 AM

Oh sure. All will be hired back. Uh huh. I strongly doubt these folks were just waiting by the phone for a call from their former employer, especially after how they were treated just weeks ago. Some will come back, probably as contractors and the majority are now elsewhere, having taken their prized language skills with them ...

#5 | Posted by catdog at 2025-06-15 11:23 AM

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