President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday aimed at cutting off all federal funding to PBS and NPR. He accused the public broadcasters of biased reporting and claimed they use taxpayer money to promote what he called “radical, woke propaganda” disguised as news. The order instructs the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and other government agencies to stop providing any direct or indirect funding to NPR and PBS.
This move is part of a broader effort by Trump to use federal powers to target organizations and institutions that disagree with him. Since taking office, he has removed leaders, put staff on leave, and slashed funding for the arts, libraries, museums, and theaters. He has also taken control of institutions like the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. In addition, Trump has attempted to withhold federal research and education funds from universities and has tried to pressure law firms to abandon diversity programs that he opposes.
PBS and NPR currently receive about $500 million in federal funding through the CPB. They have been preparing for major funding cuts since Trump’s election, as many Republicans have long criticized their programming. Paula Kerger, President and CEO of PBS, responded to the funding threat last month, stating that cutting public media funding would disrupt the essential services PBS and local stations provide. She emphasized that PBS is a deeply American institution and that its work is only possible through bipartisan support. Public funding, she said, plays a critical role in preparing children for school and supporting high-quality, educational programming.
Earlier this week, the CPB filed a lawsuit against Trump after he fired three members of its five-person board. The lawsuit claims the president exceeded his authority and that his actions have left the board without enough members to carry out its duties.
The White House recently announced plans to ask Congress to approve a $9.1 billion package of spending cuts, which includes eliminating CPB funding. Budget Director Russell Vought said more cut proposals would follow, though the current package has not yet been submitted to Congress.
Trump’s actions against PBS and NPR are part of a larger campaign to weaken publicly funded media. His administration has also tried to dismantle the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which oversees Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty—outlets created to promote independent journalism in countries with restricted media. However, federal courts have pushed back, ruling in some cases that the administration overstepped its legal authority by trying to block funds already approved by Congress.
