Trump Executive Order Cuts Federal Funding to NPR, PBS Threatening Public Media Nationwide

President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) to cease federal funding for National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), citing claims of biased and partisan reporting. This move threatens significant funding cuts to public media outlets nationwide, including Blue Ridge Public Radio in North Carolina, WUOT in Tennessee, New Mexico PBS and KUNM, Minnesota Public Radio, Baltimore Public Media, and others, with potential losses ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars. CPB officials and public media leaders have challenged the president's authority, noting that CPB is a private nonprofit authorized by Congress and not part of the executive branch, and CPB has filed a lawsuit against the administration over the order. Public media outlets warn that these cuts could result in staff layoffs, reduced programming, and diminished services such as emergency alerts and educational content, affecting communities across multiple states. While Congress currently controls CPB's budget through 2027, the Trump administration is also pushing for legislative actions to eliminate or reduce public media funding in future fiscal years. Media leaders emphasize the critical role of public media in providing trusted information and diverse voices, especially amid growing political and social divisions.