New Effort to DeFund NPR Faces Uphill Battle

Congressman Ronny Jackson (TX-13) has  introduced the No Partisan Radio and Partisan Broadcasting Services Act, or the NPR and PBS Act, which would end the federal government’s financial support of both National Public Radio (NPR) and Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). 

The legislation will prohibit federal funds from being used to support NPR or PBS, thereby ending these outlets from pushing their radical-left agenda on the American people with taxpayer dollars.

Rep Ronny Jackson

Jackson said: “When NPR and PBS were established by Congress, it was with the notion that their content would remain unbiased and benefit every American, however it is obvious that NPR and PBS have abandoned their founding principles. For decades, radical Democrats have siphoned hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to NPR and PBS under the guise of ‘serving the public’ despite sharing all the same propaganda of any other radical-left corporate news outlet. Taxpayers should not be forced to support biased media like NPR and PBS against their will, which is why I am proud to introduce legislation that will end federal funding to these deceptive, partisan news outlets.”

Jackson’s bill currently has no co-sponsors. It also does not have a companion bill in the Senate. It will likely also face an uphill battle if prior attempts to cut-off public radio and television funding are any indication.

But despite the talk about cutting federal funding, CPB funding has remained in the budget. President Biden’s latest budget proposal released this month includes more money for public media. The latest budget proposal includes $575 million for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting in the 2026 fiscal year.