Trump signs executive order directing federal funding cuts to PBS, NPR, and public media

On Thursday, May 1, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to cut public subsidies to PBS and NPR as he alleged “bias” in the broadcasters’ reporting.

The order instructs the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and other federal agencies “to cease Federal funding for NPR and PBS” and further requires that they work to root out indirect sources of public financing for the news organizations. 

The broadcasters get roughly half a billion dollars in public money through the CPB.

“Unlike in 1967, when the CPB was established, today the media landscape is filled with abundant, diverse, and innovative news options,” the order says. “Government funding of news media in this environment is not only outdated and unnecessary but corrosive to the appearance of journalistic independence.”

The CPB is a private, nonprofit corporation authorized by Congress in the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967. Rather than create public media programming, the corporation contributes funding to independent public radio and television stations to provide local news, emergency coverage, and educational programming.

In addition to supporting PBS and NPR, CPB funding supports over 1,500 local public media stations nationwide, including WTIP Community Radio.

While the language in the order targets explicitly cutting funding for NPR and PBS, it remains unclear if the entire CPB funding, which runs on a two-year cycle, will be rescinded.

If CPB funding is rescinded in its entirety, WTIP Community Radio will lose approximately $170,000 in the 2025 budget and $238,000, or 25%, of the 2026 budget. 

If CPB funding is rescinded solely for PBS and NPR, WTIP Community Radio and other local public media stations will lose access to programming provided by NPR.

The executive order states, “The CPB Board shall cease indirect funding to NPR and PBS, including by ensuring that licensees and permittees of public radio and television stations, as well as any other recipients of CPB funds, do not use Federal funds for NPR and PBS.”

A significant portion of WTIP’s music and cultural programming is supplied by NPR, such as Beale Street Caravan, Indigefi, Mountain Stage, National Native News, Soul Deluxe, The Mainstream, and World Cafe.

If Congress approves the executive order’s instructions, WTIP stands to lose approximately 60-65 hours of programming per week.

“The biggest thing would be finding programming to fill that gap,” said WTIP’s Program Director Sterling Anderson.

Anderson said the convenience of having readily available music or cultural programs from larger public stations like NPR helps WTIP provide programming overnight when volunteer or staff capacity is limited.

Patricia Harrison, President and CEO of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), issued a statement on May 2, saying, “CPB is not a federal executive agency subject to the President’s authority. Congress directly authorized and funded CPB to be a private nonprofit corporation wholly independent of the federal government.”

Harrison said, “In creating CPB, Congress expressly forbade ‘any department, agency, officer, or employee of the United States to exercise any direction, supervision, or control over educational television or radio broadcasting, or over [CPB] or any of its grantees or contractors…’ 47 U.S.C. § 398(c).”

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting sued Trump earlier this week over his move to fire three members of its five-person board, contending that the president was exceeding his authority and that the move would deprive the board of a quorum needed to conduct business.

With the ongoing uncertainties regarding CPB funding, WTIP’s Development Director Katie Belanger said, “With federal funding under threat, it’s imperative that community supporters work together to keep WTIP strong.”

How to support WTIP:

• Start talking to your friends and family. Help them understand what’s going on, and ask them to join you in getting involved. Call your Congressperson. Urge your lawmakers to oppose the rescissions package. Visit protectmypublicmedia.org to learn more.
• Subscribe to WTIP’s newsletter and pay close attention to your inbox. WTIP will be reaching out and keeping listeners updated over the coming months. We will share opportunities to help and support as we navigate this moment.
• Consider increasing your support of WTIP. Community support has always been vital to WTIP and will be our strength long into the future. That’s why it’s critical to support local, so you can listen local.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Kalli Hawkins May 2, 2025