The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), a private nonprofit established by Congress in 1967 to fund public media, announced Friday that it will begin an "orderly wind-down" of its operations due to the loss of federal funding.
The decision follows a Republican-led effort, supported by President Donald Trump, to rescind $1.1 billion in previously allocated funds for CPB over fiscal years 2026 and 2027, as part of a $9 billion rescissions package passed in July 2025.
Additionally, the Senate Appropriations Committee’s fiscal 2026 spending bill, released on July 31, 2025, excluded CPB funding for the first time in over 50 years.
CPB, which supports over 1,500 local public radio and television stations, including PBS and NPR affiliates, informed its approximately 100 employees that most staff positions will be eliminated by September 30, 2025.
 |
| Patricia Harrison |
CPB President and CEO Patricia Harrison expressed regret, stating, “Despite the extraordinary efforts of millions of Americans who called, wrote, and petitioned Congress to preserve federal funding for CPB, we now face the difficult reality of closing our operations.”
She highlighted CPB’s role in providing trusted educational content, emergency alerts, and local journalism, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
The funding cuts stem from long-standing Republican criticism of public media, particularly NPR and PBS, for perceived liberal bias. Trump’s May 2025 executive order argued that government-funded media is outdated in today’s diverse media landscape and undermines journalistic independence. Critics of the cuts, including Democrats and public media advocates, warn that the shutdown will devastate local stations, especially in rural areas, where they provide critical news, cultural programming, and emergency alerts.