PBS and NPR are in a crucial funding battle as the Trump administration seeks to cut their federal support. The White House has accused the public broadcasters of spreading “radical, woke propaganda” under the guise of news. PBS CEO Paula Kerger defended the network, stating, “There’s nothing more American than PBS, and our work is only possible because of the bipartisan support we have always received from Congress.”
The federal funding at stake amounts to $535 million annually, or about $1.60 per American taxpayer.
This money supports a wide range of services provided by PBS and NPR stations, including educational shows, emergency alerts, and various news and cultural programs. Without this funding, many local stations, especially in rural, Republican areas, could be forced to shut down. Ed Ulman, CEO of Alaska Public Media, stressed the importance of the funding, noting that numerous local stations could close without it.
“These are the last locally owned broadcasters in these communities,” Ulman said, highlighting the potential loss of critical local news and emergency services. Jim Schachter, CEO of New Hampshire Public Radio, argued that beyond the money, the Trump administration’s proposal threatens a free press and aims to control information.
Public media funding battle
“This is not about the money,” Schachter said. “It’s a minuscule amount of money in the federal budget, but it’s critical to meeting public media’s civic responsibilities. This is about attacking a free press.”
Congress budgets money for public broadcasting two years in advance, with nearly $1.1 billion currently allocated for the future.
The Trump administration wants to retract this amount. Public media executives counter the administration’s claims by emphasizing their broad and diverse programming. They argue that losing federal funding would significantly diminish the reach and quality of their services.
A recent Pew Research poll indicated that only 24% of adults believe the government should stop funding public media, while 43% support continuing the funding. With funding increasingly scarce for for-profit local news coverage, advocates argue that public media is more essential than ever. PBS and NPR will be rallying public support and lobbying lawmakers in the coming weeks, hoping to secure the funds vital to their mission of providing accessible, independent media to all Americans.
