The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) announced Tuesday, a $26 million emergency grant program to keep dozens of public radio stations on the air amid devastating federal funding cuts. The one-time “Public Media Stabilization Fund” will distribute money to 74 public media organizations—most of them radio stations—starting immediately, with awards ranging from $50,000 to $750,000 each.
The grants are a direct response to the Rescissions Act of 2025, which eliminated more than 90% of federal appropriations for public broadcasting in FY 2026 and beyond.
Many stations have already lost six-figure CPB grants; for example, KDNK in Carbondale, Colorado, was stripped of $112,450—28% of its annual budget—forcing program cancellations and staff layoffs.
Sixty percent of the new money ($15.6 million) is earmarked for basic operations (payroll, utilities, transmitters), 30% ($7.8 million) for digital upgrades and content development, and 10% ($2.6 million) as emergency reserves for stations on the verge of closure.
.png)
The infusion is expected to:
- Prevent 200–300 layoffs in the next six months
- Restore 15–20% of local programming hours slashed since January 2025
- Fund emergency transmitter repairs and digital transitions that stations could no longer afford
CPB officials described the allocation as a “bridge, not a solution,” emphasizing that without restored federal funding, 150–200 public radio stations could still close by 2027. The grants rely partly on reallocated FY 2025 reserves and matching philanthropic dollars, underscoring a rapid pivot away from traditional CPB support toward private and foundation funding.
Public radio still reaches 40 million weekly listeners, but 68% of stations are currently operating in deficit. Today’s $26 million announcement buys them time—but only time.