Voice of America service airing to Iran 'urgently called back' amid airstrikes

A government-funded international broadcaster that provides news in Persian and which primarily targets audiences in Iran has been "urgently called back," according to reports.

The Voice of America Persian Service was cut by President Donald Trump in a March 15 executive order that shut down VOA Persian TV, along with other U.S.-funded international broadcasters. The service's funding was cut and nearly all staff were placed on administrative leave.

But VOA Persian is widely regarded as a vital channel to reach Iranian audiences with independent news and United States viewpoints, as Iran wields tight control over the media. On Friday, the Trump administration reversed course and called the service back.

"USAGM today urgently called back to work the staff of the Voice of America's Farsi language service. All had been on paid admin leave for the past three months with the rest of VOA's silenced journalists," wrote Steve Herman, chief national correspondent at the agency, on X.

The U.S. Agency for Global Media told employees placed on administrative leave to immediately return to their roles and "provide counter-programming to Iranian state media" as Iran and Israel exchanged a barrage of missiles, Politico reported, citing an email and three people familiar with the situation.

"Effective immediately, you are recalled from administrative leave,” the email from the agency's human resources department said. “You are expected to report to your duty station immediately.”

The Persian wing has about 75 full-time employees, and at least one of them took a shot at the Trump administration over the saga.

“It just shows how idiotic they are, consistent with this firing and rehiring pattern that has cost Americans who knows how many millions of dollars,” one VOA employee on administrative leave, told Politico on condition of anonymity to speak candidly. “This is the real fraud, waste and abuse.”