Trump Moves to Cut Public Broadcasting Funds
President Trump asked Congress to rescind $1.1B in public broadcasting funds, intensifying partisan battle over NPR, PBS, and cultural institutions.President Trump has formally asked Congress to rescind $1.1 billion in federal funding designated for public broadcasting over the next two years, marking a sharp escalation in his ongoing confrontation with major cultural institutions such as NPR and PBS. For the request, known as a “rescission,” to take effect, it must pass both chambers of Congress within 45 days. With Republicans holding slim majorities in both the House and Senate, the measure’s fate remains uncertain.
The move follows a contentious House subcommittee hearing earlier this year where Republican lawmakers accused NPR and PBS of partisan bias, laying the groundwork for eliminating federal funding distributed through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) to local stations. Critics of the proposal, including PBS and NPR leaders, warn it would severely damage public media, particularly in rural areas where these stations provide essential news and emergency services. Trump’s request is part of a broader $9.4 billion package of proposed federal spending cuts, which also targets foreign aid. House Speaker Mike Johnson credited a government efficiency task force led by billionaire Elon Musk for identifying programs for elimination. However, Senate resistance is already taking shape. Republican Senator Susan Collins publicly opposed cuts to PEPFAR, a highly successful global HIV/AIDS program included in the same package. The $1.1 billion targeted for public broadcasting would have little impact on the $36 trillion national debt but would eliminate all CPB funding through September 2027. This funding was approved earlier this year as part of a stopgap spending measure. Though public broadcasting has historically enjoyed bipartisan support, some Republicans argue the networks now reflect a liberal bias. Others, including Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski, defend the funding, emphasizing its importance in underserved communities. The rescission request comes on the heels of prior Trump efforts to curtail public media influence, including attempts to restructure CPB’s board and executive orders aimed at blocking federal funds from reaching NPR and PBS. These earlier moves have sparked multiple legal challenges, with lawsuits now pending in federal court. Congress now begins the 45-day countdown, and, in the meantime, public broadcasters and their advocates are actively lobbying lawmakers to preserve funding. Nearly 200 local radio station representatives visited Capitol Hill in May to highlight the vital role public media plays in delivering local news and educational programming, especially in regions where commercial media falls short. |