Imagine millions of Iranians struggling to access information freely. That’s the reality as the United States grapples with the urgent allocation of $10 million to bolster virtual private network (VPN) access in Iran. These anti-censorship tools are in high demand right now, amid widespread unrest and government restrictions.

The need is clear: Officials across the board – from the State Department to US senators from both parties – recognize the importance of supporting tools that allow Iranians to bypass the government’s iron grip on internet access. The proposed funding would be channeled through the Open Technology Fund (OTF), a dedicated non-profit committed to fighting online censorship on a global scale, as reported by Bloomberg.

“We need these funds yesterday,” emphasizes Laura Cunningham, president of the Open Technology Fund. “If we don’t have these resources immediately, we will be forced to make difficult decisions about cutting off millions of VPN users in Iran as soon as next week.” The situation is truly critical.

Since 2022, OTF has relied on a process where the State Department funnels funds through the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which then allocates the money to OTF. Cunningham notes that this process typically takes just one or two weeks.

However, USAGM Deputy CEO Kari Lake has stirred controversy by suggesting the usual route “would take months.” She proposed that OTF temporarily draw from its own annual budget, according to a February 5 letter to Republican Senator Lindsey Graham obtained by Bloomberg.

This proposal faced immediate pushback. In a February 10 response, Senators Graham and James Lankford argued that diverting $10 million from OTF’s yearly allocation “is not surge funding.” They warned that it would compromise support for VPN users in other countries facing censorship, including China, Cuba, and Russia.

“We are working hand-in-glove with the State Department to deliver on President Trump’s priorities,” USAGM’s Lake stated, suggesting alignment and progress.

“Support is on the way to ensure a steady flow of information — as fast as possible — through VPNs and a variety of other mechanisms,” Lake added. “We will continue working tirelessly to deliver in this historic moment despite the Iranian regime’s suppression.”

The State Department echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the critical importance of maintaining internet access for Iranians. They affirmed ongoing efforts to expand capabilities and collaborate with international partners to share costs.

However, Zack Cooper, OTF’s board chair, challenges Lake’s rosy assessment. “The State Department immediately found $10 million for OTF to support VPN users in Iran,” he stated. “If USAGM wanted OTF to have these additional resources to support VPN users in Iran, we would.” This suggests a disconnect between stated intentions and actual implementation.

President Donald Trump has been a vocal supporter of Iranian protesters, even suggesting that regime change would be “the best thing that could happen” to Iran.

Adding to the pressure, Senators Jacky Rosen, Cory Booker, Lindsey Graham, and James Lankford jointly urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio in late January to secure continuous funding. Their January 28 letter warned that “Without the continuous operation of internet freedom programming carried out by the State Department and Open Technology Fund, millions of Iranians will lose their last secure window and voice to the outside world.”

Crucially, US sanctions prevent Iranian civilians from directly paying for these vital services. This leaves organizations like OTF to provide the technology free of charge. Cunningham cautions that without secure, uncensored access, users face the risk of government persecution. Furthermore, VPNs conceal IP addresses, providing a layer of safety for those using Starlink terminals deployed by Elon Musk when authorities shut down internet access.