In a recent statement from Fox News Digital, Kari Lake, who serves as a senior advisor to the US Global Media Agency (USAGM), announced that the Voice of America (VOA) Persian news service will expand its coverage due to escalating tensions between Iran and Israel.
Lake expressed that “history is being made,” and the VOA Persian service is eager to seize the opportunity to report on it. She emphasized the importance of Persian coverage for USAGM, noting, “We are ramping up as we always planned to fulfill this historic moment.” She mentioned that staff members are being recalled from paid administrative leave to report on the situation in Iran.
About 75 Farsi-speaking staff members, including numerous journalists, have been recalled to cover the intensifying conflict, which began with Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and has included Iranian missile attacks on Israeli cities.
This decision comes after a period of budget cuts at VOA and USAGM funded by the government. In May, the Trump administration had laid off over 500 contractors while also deploying 800 employees during their holidays, aiming to cut costs and streamline the agency’s operations.
Lake indicated that the VOA Persian service will focus on an “extraordinarily critical” time in Iran’s history, as the agency prepares to resume full satellite broadcasts and online updates specifically for the Iranian audience.
Some staff members have voiced concerns regarding the flexibility of VOA’s priorities; one source wondered if the agency would only activate its resources during crises deemed significant by the administration.
