Congress Cuts $1.1B Federal Public Media Funding Nationwide

Congress approved a rescission bill proposed by President Donald Trump that cuts $1.1 billion in funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), severely impacting public radio and television stations nationwide. This cut represents a significant portion of budgets for stations such as WFYI in Indiana, KUCB in Alaska, and multiple stations across Kentucky, threatening their ability to provide independent journalism, educational content, and emergency broadcasts. The bill passed narrowly along party lines, with most Republicans supporting the measure and Democrats opposing it, citing concerns over the effects on rural and local communities reliant on public media. Supporters of the cuts, including Trump and his administration, argue the move restores fiscal responsibility and targets what they perceive as partisan left-wing bias in NPR and PBS programming. Opponents warn that the loss of federal funding could devastate smaller stations and reduce critical local coverage, especially in emergencies. The bill awaits President Trump's signature to become law.