Layoff notices have been delivered to hundreds of employees at the Voice of America outlet, including the Persian-language service that was called off leave last week to beam news of the Middle East war to residents of Iran.

Despite the Trump administration's efforts to dismantle or sharply cut back on U.S. government-run news outlets like Voice of America, two Persian-language services have been called into duty to report on Israel's war with Iran to Iranian audiences.

Sharp job cuts at the state-run Voice of America are outlined in a letter to Congress that was obtained by The Associated Press.

The new Trump administration hasn't hesitated to make itself felt across government.

NEW YORK – The White House reporter for Voice of America was abruptly pulled from her beat after trying to question Secretary of State Mike Pompeo following a speech he gave at the government agency this week. Founded during World War II and run by the U.S. Agency for Global Media, Voice of America broadcasts news from the United States to countries around the world. Apparently unsatisfied with the questions put to Pompeo, Widakuswara shouted her own as he was leaving. After Pompeo left, Widakuswara asked Reilly why he didn't ask “any of the questions that we want to know about," according to a recording of the encounter. Steve Herman, who is Voice of America's White House bureau chief, tweeted his support for his colleague.