The Voice of America (VOA) has drastically cut its programming aimed at Iranian audiences, broadcasting only 75 minutes over the last 72 hours amid a critical moment in the Middle East. This reduction, attributed to funding cuts under the Trump administration, raises alarms among lawmakers about the diminishing role of U.S. media as a tool of soft power against authoritarian regimes. Following terminations affecting hundreds of staff, including journalists in the VOA Persian division, the agency has had to navigate significant personnel changes, while also attempting to respond to current events.
Lawmakers are growing concerned that what was once considered the country's greatest soft power weapon against authoritarian regimes has been sloppily gutted for political points.
History is being made, and VOA Persian news service is rising to the occasion to cover it. ... We are ramping up - as we've always planned to do - to meet this historic moment.
The programming was limited to just one show for around 30 minutes Sunday morning and another for around 45 minutes Monday morning.
Those cuts bring the total workforce across USAGM, VOA and the Office of Cuba Broadcasting to just 250.
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