Trump EO Terminates NPR, PBS Public Funding

President Donald Trump issued an executive order to eliminate federal funding for NPR and PBS, the White House announced, escalating his efforts to defund institutions he perceives as biased. 

Reuters reports the order directs the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which allocates funds to NPR and PBS stations, to terminate direct funding, labeling the outlets as partisan.

The order, released late Thursday, mandates the CPB to halt existing funding to the fullest extent legally possible and prohibit future allocations. NPR and PBS have warned that such cuts would severely impair their ability to deliver critical local and national news, especially during emergencies.

NPR said in a statement early Friday that the broadcaster’s editorial practices and decisions are independent and free from outside influences, including political parties.

“Eliminating funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting would have a devastating impact on American communities across the nation that rely on public radio for trusted local and national news, culture, lifesaving emergency alerts and public safety information,” the statement said.

Trump’s administration has repeatedly targeted institutions like NPR, PBS, Harvard, and Columbia, accusing them of leftist bias, and threatened their funding. Human rights groups have voiced concerns about threats to free speech and academic freedom. 

Since January, Trump and ally Elon Musk have pursued aggressive cost-cutting, slashing over 200,000 federal jobs and attempting to dismantle agencies.

The administration also tried to shutter Voice of America, Radio Free Asia, and Middle East Broadcasting Networks, but a federal judge blocked these moves in April. Thursday’s order further seeks to block indirect funding to NPR and PBS by ensuring CPB recipients do not use federal funds for these outlets.

The CPB, which supports over 1,500 public radio and TV stations, filed a lawsuit against the White House on Monday after Trump attempted to oust three of its five board members. Reports indicate the administration may push Congress to cut $1.1 billion in CPB funding, equivalent to two years’ budget.

NPR employs over 900 staff, per its website, while PBS had over 550 employees as of late 2022, according to a media report.