Former President Donald Trump has signed an executive order instructing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) to cease federal funding for the nation’s primary public broadcasters, National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). The directive calls for the termination of direct funding to the extent permitted by law and a reduction or elimination of indirect support to these institutions.
The CPB, established by Congress in 1967 as an independent nonprofit entity, is legally protected from executive interference. Its leadership has rejected the legitimacy of the order. Patricia Harrison, the CPB’s CEO, emphasized that the corporation is not under presidential authority, noting that it is “wholly independent of the federal government” and created to serve the public free from political influence.
The order comes as tensions rise between public media organizations and the Trump administration, which has repeatedly criticized NPR and PBS for what it claims is ideological bias. The White House has accused the networks of promoting politically motivated narratives, a claim strongly denied by both organizations.
In response to the order, PBS President Paula Kerger condemned the action as “blatantly unlawful,” warning that it jeopardizes the network’s ability to deliver educational content. NPR echoed this stance, vowing to defend its mission and challenge the order through all available legal channels.
Each year, CPB allocates approximately $535 million in federal funding to public radio and television stations nationwide. This support enables free access to news, cultural content, and emergency communications, particularly in rural and underserved regions.
While previous attempts during Trump’s first term to defund CPB were overridden by Congress, his administration is now pursuing a more forceful approach. Officials have announced plans to request a rescission of funds already appropriated for the next two years, a move that could threaten the viability of smaller stations with limited fundraising capacity.
The executive order further authorizes the Department of Health and Human Services, under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., to investigate NPR and PBS for alleged employment discrimination, and directs all federal agencies to identify and terminate any funding relationships with these broadcasters.
The 1967 Public Broadcasting Act was designed to shield public media from governmental influence, affirming that the CPB is a private organization intended to operate independently. Despite these safeguards, the ultimate fate of federal support lies with Congress, which retains the power to defund the corporation altogether. Such a decision could disproportionately affect rural stations, many of which serve as the last remaining locally operated media outlets in their communities.
Source: CNN
