Internal documents expose VOA directing staff not to refer to Hamas as a terrorist organization. Senator Bill Hagerty protests to USAGM CEO Amanda Bennett

USAGM Watch Commentary

As reported by his U.S. Senate office, “Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on State Department and USAID Management, International Operations, and Bilateral International Development and a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs, … led his colleagues in sending a letter to U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) Director Amanda Bennett expressing strong concerns over Voice of America (VOA)’s internal guidance not to refer to Hamas as terrorists.”

The letter, signed by seven Republican Senators was sent to USAGM CEO Amanda Bennett after the Voice of America removed the word “terrorist” from a VOA report about the October 7 Hamas attack on the music festival in Israel. Amanda Bennett served as VOA director from 2016 to 2020 and as USAGM CEO, nominated by President Biden, since 2022. The letter was signed by Republican Senators: Bill Hagerty, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Pete Ricketts, Lindsey Graham, Deb Fischer, and John Barrasso.

HAGERTY LEADS COLLEAGUES IN CONDEMNING VOA’S REFUSAL TO CALL HAMAS TERRORISTS | Senator Bill Hagerty

Hagerty Leads Colleagues in Condemning VOA’s Refusal to Call Hamas Terrorists – Senator Bill Hagerty

Internal documents expose VOA directing staff not to refer to Hamas as a terrorist organization WASHINGTON—United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on State Department and USAID Management, International Operations, and Bilateral Internat…