On Tuesday, the Trump administration formally submitted a request to Congress aimed at rescinding federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which provides financial support for PBS and NPR. In 2024, CPB received $525 million, and in 2025, this amount increased to $535 million. However, if the new budget plan is approved, CPB's federal budget would face a complete cut for the years 2026 and 2027.
A spokesperson from the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) conveyed to The Washington Post that the administration is seeking to rescind approximately $1.1 billion in funding. The OMB Director, Russell Vought, described CPB as a “left-wing” organization in a post on X, emphasizing that federal spending on CPB supports a public media system perceived as politically biased and burdensome to taxpayers.
The proposed budget cuts to CPB are part of a larger $9.4 billion rescission package that predominantly targets foreign aid through the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development. In a budget appendix released for fiscal year 2026, the White House recommended reducing CPB's federal funding to a mere $30 million, intended solely for an "orderly closeout" of federal support for the organization.
Established by the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967, CPB is an independent nonprofit responsible for directing congressional allocations to public media outlets such as PBS and NPR, along with their affiliated stations. President Trump has long aimed to eliminate taxpayer funding for what he perceives as “biased” media.
In April, President Trump initially announced his intention to request formal rescission from Congress prior to attempting to unilaterally defund CPB through an executive order issued on May 1. Following this action, NPR filed a lawsuit against the government in U.S. District Court in Washington, claiming that the executive order infringes upon its First Amendment rights. PBS subsequently joined in with a similar lawsuit against the administration.
Paula Kerger, president and CEO of PBS, expressed that the funding cuts would “have a devastating impact” on PBS member stations, which would ultimately result in a loss of critical local coverage for Americans. She emphasized that PBS plays a vital role in highlighting significant issues and stories often overlooked by commercial media, reinforcing the importance of bipartisan support from Congress.
CPB President and CEO Patricia Harrison highlighted the irreplaceable nature of federal funding for the public broadcasting system. She stated that public media serves diverse communities across the nation free of charge and commercial influence, providing high-quality educational content and vital information to American families.
NPR CEO Katherine Maher commented that the proposed rescission would negatively affect Americans by shutting down access to essential services such as local news, national reporting, and emergency alerts. She pointed out that, while the funding cuts might have minimal impact on reducing the federal deficit, they would harm a critical resource for millions of citizens.
As part of the ongoing conflict, three of CPB’s five board members received termination letters from a White House official on April 28. The next day, CPB and the affected board members filed a lawsuit, arguing that the president lacks the authority to unilaterally remove them, as they are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate.
This situation represents just one aspect of the Trump administration's broader conflict with the media. The administration has engaged in legal battles with the Associated Press regarding access to White House events and has pursued legal action against CBS over an interview with Kamala Harris. Additionally, the administration is working to dismantle Voice of America and other government-funded media networks.
Federal funding accounts for approximately 15 percent of PBS's budget and around 1 percent of NPR's budget. These percentages are higher for their member stations, with PBS receiving 18 percent and NPR 13 percent from federal sources. A recent survey by the Pew Research Center revealed that a significant portion of Americans, about 43 percent, support federal funding for public media, while only 24 percent oppose it. This support is notably stronger among Democrats, with 69 percent favoring continued taxpayer funding, compared to just 19 percent of Republican respondents.
