Overview

• President Donald Trump’s March 15 executive order disbanded the U.S. Agency for Global Media and silenced VOA’s Persian service, sending about 75 staffers on paid administrative leave.
• On June 14 the agency directed Farsi-language journalists to return immediately to “provide counter-programming to Iranian state media” as Israel and Iran exchanged missile strikes.
• Before its suspension VOA Farsi delivered more than four hours of daily Persian-language news aimed at circumventing Tehran’s tight media controls.
• Steve Herman, VOA’s chief national correspondent, announced the recall on X, underscoring Washington’s renewed reliance on independent broadcasting for international crises.
• Some sidelined staffers have criticized the shutdown and rapid rehiring as a waste of millions in taxpayer funds that has damaged the service’s audience trust.