Fireworks are expected on Capitol Hill as the heads of NPR and PBS, Katherine Maher and Paula Kerger, prepare to testify before the newly-formed Delivering on Government Efficiency (DOGE) subcommittee of the House of Representatives. The hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, and it is anticipated to be a heated discussion regarding the federal funding these public broadcasting entities receive. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican from Georgia and chair of the DOGE subcommittee, sent letters last month inviting Maher and Kerger to address what she has termed their blatantly ideological and partisan coverage.
In a recent interview with The New York Times, Kerger expressed her concerns, stating, “Everything is at stake.” She warned that the future of many public broadcasting stations across the country could be compromised if federal funding is not sustained. The hearing presents an opportunity for both leaders to defend the financial support they receive from taxpayers and to justify their content's alignment with public interests.
Former President Donald Trump has publicly expressed his desire to eliminate federal funding for NPR and PBS. When asked about the upcoming hearing, Trump stated, “I would love to do that,” emphasizing that he believes the funding is unjustified and that taxpayer money is being misallocated. He has characterized NPR and PBS as biased, asserting his intent to cut their funding, which he believes would be a significant step forward.
Jeffrey McCall, a journalism professor at DePauw University, has indicated that Maher and Kerger will face significant challenges during the hearing. He noted that there is little they can say to counter the established reputation of NPR and PBS for having a partisan bias. “If they claim to be centrist, they will lose all credibility. If they admit to being left-leaning, they risk further alienating a portion of their audience,” McCall explained. He added that any commitments to enhance professional standards might come across as insincere.
In her correspondence with Maher and Kerger, Greene pointed out specific instances of alleged biased reporting. She cited NPR's handling of the Hunter Biden laptop scandal and PBS's coverage involving billionaire Elon Musk. Greene contended that such biases compromise the principles of objective journalism and erode public trust in these institutions. She emphasized the importance of public broadcasting serving the entire populace, rather than a narrow ideological segment.
Uri Berliner, a former NPR editor and now a contributing editor for The Free Press, has suggested critical questions that he would raise during the hearing. These inquiries would include whether NPR has any regrets regarding past coverage, steps taken to enhance viewpoint diversity in their newsroom, and considerations for financial restructuring to empower local stations.
According to NPR, its revenue sources are diverse, with 38% derived from corporate sponsorships and 31% from programming fees. A mere 1% of its revenue comes from net returns on investments. NPR's financial page asserts that eliminating federal funding would diminish their capacity to deliver journalism, indicating that while they publicly downplay government funding, smaller stations that rely on taxpayer support contribute to NPR's overall revenue.
On the other hand, PBS relies significantly on the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which allocates around $500 million annually from Congress. PBS states that approximately 35% of its funding comes from CPB, while the remaining 65% is generated through individual donations, grants, and corporate sponsorships. This funding structure underscores the critical role that federal support plays in sustaining public broadcasting.
The upcoming hearing on Capitol Hill is set to be a pivotal moment for NPR and PBS. As public representatives debate the merits of federal funding for these entities, the outcomes could significantly influence the future of public broadcasting in America. It remains to be seen how Maher and Kerger will navigate the hearing and what implications the discussions will have for the funding and operations of NPR and PBS moving forward.
