CPB to Close After Federal Funding Eliminated

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which has supported PBS, NPR, and local stations for nearly 60 years, will wind down operations after Congress enacted a $1.1 billion federal funding cut led by the Trump administration. Most CPB staff will be laid off by September 30, with a small transition team remaining through January to manage the closure and complete outstanding obligations. The funding cut followed longstanding criticism from Republican leaders, who argued that federal support for media is no longer justified and fosters bias, despite significant public advocacy to preserve the funding. The loss of CPB is expected to severely impact local public broadcasters, especially in rural and low-income areas, potentially resulting in reduced programming and services. Station leaders have warned of challenges to the sustainability of public media and emphasized the need for increased reliance on community and donor support. The shutdown represents a historic shift for U.S. public broadcasting, raising questions about the future viability of national and local stations.