Public Media Bracing For Friday Senate Vote

Congress is set to vote by Friday on a White House rescission package that would cut over $500 million annually in federal funding to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which supports public radio and TV stations nationwide. President Trump has pushed for the cuts, threatening to withhold support from Republican lawmakers who oppose the proposal.

If passed, the cuts would begin in October, severely impacting local stations, many of which rely on CPB for over 50% of their budgets. NPR and PBS, which receive a smaller portion of federal funds, would likely survive but face adjustments, reports The NY Times.

NPR's Katherine Maher

Smaller stations, like those in Alaska where up to 95% of funding comes from CPB, could shut down, according to Ed Ulman, head of Alaska Public Media. Ulman noted that educational programs tied to shows like “Molly of Denali” and “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood” would be among the first cut.

Local programming, including South Dakota Public Broadcasting’s interviews with lawmakers, historical documentaries, and high school sports coverage, would also be at risk, as local content is costlier than national programming, said spokesperson Ms. Overgaard. 

NPR’s Katherine Maher warned of potential staff cuts, while PBS’s Paula Kerger called the impact “significant,” with plans to assess next steps if the cuts pass.

Some hope philanthropists could step in, with Marc Hand of the Public Media Venture Group suggesting foundations might acquire struggling stations, as seen with newspapers. 

Neal Zuckerman of Boston Consulting Group estimated that sustaining local journalism would require a $20 billion endowment to generate $1 billion annually. He emphasized public media’s role as an “essential service” and the need for sustainable funding if federal support ends.