The Trump administration has prepared a memo for Congress indicating its intention to discontinue almost all federal funding for public media, including NPR and PBS, as reported by a White House official to NPR. The memo, intended for submission to Congress upon reconvening from recess on April 28, opens a 45-day period during which the House and Senate can approve the rescission or inadvertently restore the funding.
An official anonymously confirmed the memo’s existence. On Monday, the White House issued a statement, without mentioning the memo, criticizing taxpayer funding of NPR and PBS, accusing them of spreading “radical, woke propaganda” presented as news, including alleged biased content and “intolerance of non-leftist viewpoints.”
NPR is notable for producing programs such as “Morning Edition” and “All Things Considered,” while PBS is recognized for the “PBS News Hour” and children’s programming like “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood.” The president expressed intentions to rescind $1.1 billion, equivalent to two years of funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which partially funds NPR and PBS.
President Trump’s stance seems influenced by a House Oversight subcommittee hearing in March, where NPR and PBS leaders testified amid allegations of bias against conservatives in their coverage. NPR stated that removing CPB funding would significantly impact communities that depend on public radio for news, culture, emergency messages, and safety information. NPR emphasized its mission to serve the public interest and highlighted its role in public-private partnership.
PBS did not immediately comment on the directive. During the hearing, public broadcasting leaders addressed their commitment to providing unbiased news and programming. However, some Republican lawmakers aired grievances over perceived bias. They targeted NPR’s chief, Katherine Maher, for prior social media comments and questioned PBS’s Paula Kerger about a controversial video involving a drag performer for young audiences.
Despite accusations, both networks maintain extensive coverage, reaching over 99% of the public without charge, and are integral to emergency response systems. The CPB currently has $535 million allocated for the fiscal year, insulated by Congress-approved two-year budget cycles.
NPR’s funding incorporates approximately 1% directly from the federal government and more indirectly; its member institutions, numbering 246 with over 1,300 stations, receive between 8% and 10% from CPB. PBS and its affiliates rely on CPB for about 15% of their funding. The majority of CPB funds support local stations, notably in television due to higher costs compared to radio.
Testimonies during congressional hearings revealed that withdrawing this financial support would critically affect smaller stations, particularly in underserved areas. The leader of Alaska Public Media underscored these sentiments, emphasizing the necessity of such funding for state-level coverage to contribute to national storylines.
Recently, a Pew Research Center poll revealed diverse opinions on federal funding for NPR and PBS, with 43% of adults favoring continued support and 24% recommending cuts. Politically, 44% of Republicans advocate ending funding, while 69% of Democrats support its continuation.
Historically, public broadcasting has enjoyed bipartisan support, helping it withstand intermittent conservative efforts to cut funding. Presently, Brendan Carr of the FCC is examining NPR and PBS corporate underwriting for potential compliance issues with bans on commercial advertising. The networks argue that private financial support facilitated by the FCC and Congress is necessary and complies with regulations.
Meanwhile, legal battles persist, including a New York judge halting efforts by presidential adviser Kari Lake to close Voice of America and challenges against reducing funds for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. These suits claim overreach by the Trump administration, infringing on Congressional authority, due process, and free speech.
Despite resistance, the White House made unprecedented progress with initiatives like the DOGE budget-cutting venture, assisted by law enforcement, taking over the U.S. Institute of Peace, a congressional yet independent nonprofit similar to CPB. Legal actions against these measures continue, as echoed by Kari Lake’s similar stance on public broadcasters, advocating for their defunding.
This report was collaboratively prepared by NPR Correspondents David Folkenflik and Scott Neuman, with editorial oversight by Deputy Business Editor Emily Kopp and Managing Editors Gerry Holmes and Vickie Walton-James. As per NPR’s reporting protocol, no corporate or news executive within NPR reviewed this story before publication.
