Where Things Stand: Defunding NPR

Efforts to defund the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and National Public Radio (NPR) have gained significant momentum, particularly with the Trump administration and Republican lawmakers intensifying their focus on slashing federal funding for public media. 

These efforts target the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), the primary mechanism through which federal funds support PBS, NPR, and their affiliated local stations.

Recent Developments: Legislative Proposals: In February 2025, Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the "Defund Government Sponsored Propaganda Act," aiming to eliminate all federal taxpayer funding for PBS and NPR. This bill, mirrored in the House by Representative Claudia Tenney (R-NY), argues that these outlets exhibit political bias and should compete in the marketplace without public subsidies. Earlier, in late 2024, Representatives Jim Banks (R-IN) and Kat Cammack (R-FL) proposed similar legislation to cut funding to NPR, labeling it "liberal propaganda." Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) has also pushed the "No Propaganda Act," claiming public media misuses taxpayer dollars.

Trump Administration Influence: President-elect Donald Trump, set to take office in January 2025, has historically called for defunding the CPB, a stance he reiterated during his first term and campaign. His allies, including Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy—key figures in the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—have explicitly targeted the CPB’s $535 million annual federal allocation for elimination. Musk, in particular, has amplified this agenda, arguing that public media is unnecessary in a modern, diverse media landscape.

FCC Investigation: In January 2025, Trump-appointed FCC Chairman Brendan Carr launched probes into NPR and PBS, investigating whether their underwriting announcements violate federal rules by crossing into commercial advertising territory. Carr has suggested that any violations could further justify cutting federal support, aligning with Trump’s broader media critique and Project 2025’s blueprint to dismantle public broadcasting funding.

Congressional Context: While Republicans hold a narrow House majority and a slight Senate edge post-2024 elections, past efforts to defund public media have faltered due to bipartisan support and public backlash. However, the current political climate—bolstered by a $1.6 trillion federal deficit and conservative frustration with perceived liberal bias—has raised the stakes. A House Appropriations subcommittee in 2023 proposed zeroing out CPB funding by 2026, though this was not fully enacted, indicating ongoing tension.

Pro-Defunding: Advocates, including Musk, Ramaswamy, and GOP lawmakers like Scott Perry (R-PA), argue that PBS and NPR are relics in a digital age with abundant media options, accusing them of left-leaning bias (e.g., citing ex-NPR editor Uri Berliner’s 2024 critique). They highlight the CPB’s cost—roughly $1.50 per U.S. citizen annually—as unjustifiable amid national debt concerns.

Pro-Funding: Defenders, including NPR and PBS leadership, emphasize that federal funds (about 1% of NPR’s budget and 16% of PBS’s directly, with more via local stations) sustain critical local news, educational content (e.g., Sesame Street), and emergency alerts, especially in rural areas. Polls consistently show strong public trust in PBS (74% in 2023) and support for its funding.

Current Status: No legislation has passed yet, but the threat is more credible than in prior decades due to unified Republican control and high-profile backing from figures like Musk. NPR and PBS stations are bracing for potential cuts, with internal planning for scenarios where funding is reduced or eliminated immediately after Trump’s inauguration. A December 2024 report from NPR member stations warned against assuming historical resilience will hold, and PBS received a political strategy update in early December.