Trump’s Push to Defund NPR & PBS Ignites Fresh Congressional Showdown

President Donald Trump is renewing his call to Congress to eliminate funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), a move he attempted during his first term but met with limited success.

This time, he proposed cutting federal spending on the nonprofit organization, which plays a crucial role in financing National Public Radio (NPR), the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), and over 1,500 local radio and television stations across the country.

As Trump emphasizes public media cuts in his budget proposal and through an executive order, NPR and PBS have ramped up their discussions about funding and journalism. Katherine Maher, NPR’s president, contended that defunding CPB would minimally affect the federal budget, comprising less than 0.0001%. She condemned the effort as an encroachment on First Amendment rights for organizations and their audiences.

Similarly, PBS’s CEO Paula Kerger highlighted the significant role of CPB funding in supporting educational programs and quality content. “There’s nothing more American than PBS,” Kerger stated, citing the bipartisan congressional support essential for their operations.

The financial stakes vary; NPR receives about 1% of its direct funding from CPB, while PBS benefits from roughly 15%. Local stations tend to depend more heavily on CPB funding, with individual circumstances differing widely.

In Congress, House Republicans back cuts to CPB funding in recent appropriations bills, though the Senate remains more reticent. Senators typically pursue bipartisan agreements, suggesting that the public media may withstand Trump’s funding cut proposals, as it did previously.

Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin noted that constituents in rural states, particularly, rely heavily on public broadcasting for local news. She expressed hope that lawmakers could effectively oppose Trump’s budgetary proposals.

Opinions are mixed among Republicans. Senator John Kennedy from Louisiana argued that federal funding for CPB is unnecessary, asserting that rural residents have ample alternatives through modern media. In contrast, Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski defended CPB funding as vital for local communications and emergency services, emphasizing its importance in her state.

The Trump administration’s recent budget proposal also targets other entities, like the National Endowment for Democracy. In his order to halt funding for NPR and PBS, Trump criticized their impartiality in reporting.

Patricia Harrison, CEO of CPB, countered that the organization operates independently of Trump’s authority, as established by Congress. Reports indicate that the administration may soon seek to retract already approved funding, although formal steps have yet to be taken.

Despite Trump’s earlier attempts to cut CPB funding, Congress has increased its allocations over the past few years, reaching $535 million in 2024.

Looking ahead, Congress will begin enforcing its appropriations bills this summer, with discussions on CPB funding likely to spark significant debate. The House Appropriations Committee may attempt to eliminate or limit CPB’s funding, whereas the Senate is expected to advocate for its preservation.

The final resolution is uncertain, as lawmakers typically extend negotiations into the fiscal year. This year, it remains to be seen if public broadcasting will maintain its funding or face reductions in the future.