Fact Check: VOA’s Persian service had been shut down as a part of President Donald Trump’s March 15 executive order.

Fact Check: "VOA’s Persian service had been shut down as a part of President Donald Trump’s March 15 executive order."

What We Know

On March 15, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at significantly reducing the operations of the Voice of America (VOA) and its parent organization, the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM). This order was characterized by the president as a move to eliminate what he deemed "radical propaganda" and to ensure that taxpayer money was not being used for such purposes (BBC). Following this order, many VOA employees were placed on paid leave, and the agency's operations were severely curtailed, leading to widespread concern about the future of independent journalism in the U.S. (NPR).

However, it is crucial to note that while the executive order affected the operations of VOA, it did not specifically mention the shutdown of the Persian service or any other specific language service. Instead, the order broadly targeted the agency's funding and operational capacity, which impacted all services under the USAGM umbrella, including the Persian service (Reuters, NPR).

Analysis

The claim that "VOA’s Persian service had been shut down" as a direct result of Trump's executive order is misleading. While the executive order did lead to significant operational disruptions at VOA, including the suspension of many employees, it did not explicitly state that any specific service, including the Persian service, was permanently shut down. The order's implications were more about reducing the agency's overall operational capacity rather than a targeted closure of specific language services.

Moreover, a federal judge intervened shortly after the executive order, issuing a preliminary injunction that temporarily blocked the Trump administration's plans to dismantle VOA and its operations (NPR). This legal action indicates that the situation was fluid and that the executive order's effects were not fully realized or permanent at that time.

The sources used in this analysis are credible, including major news organizations like the BBC, NPR, and Reuters, which have a history of reliable reporting. However, the interpretation of the executive order's effects varies, and while it did lead to significant staff reductions and operational changes, it did not equate to a formal shutdown of the Persian service or any other specific service.

Conclusion

Verdict: False
The claim that "VOA’s Persian service had been shut down as a part of President Donald Trump’s March 15 executive order" is false. Although the executive order led to significant operational disruptions and staff suspensions at VOA, it did not specifically shut down the Persian service. The situation was further complicated by legal actions that temporarily blocked the administration's plans, indicating that the claim does not accurately reflect the events that transpired.

Fact Check: VOA’s Persian service had been shut down as a part of President Donald Trump’s March 15 executive order.