Senate Expected to Vote $500M Cuts NPR, PBS Funding

In 2025, President Donald Trump has strongly pushed Congress to cut more than $1 billion in federal funding for public broadcasters NPR and PBS through the rescission of funds to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). The Senate has been considering a $9.4 billion rescission bill that includes these cuts alongside reductions to foreign aid, with Trump warning Republican lawmakers they risk losing his support if they oppose it. Supporters of the cuts view the funding as corporate welfare for media outlets accused of leftwing bias, while opponents, including some Senate Republicans, warn of negative impacts on rural communities and emergency alert systems that rely on public broadcasting. Public media executives, such as Julie Overgaard of South Dakota, express concern that eliminating federal funding would severely harm local stations. The bill has faced opposition from senators like Susan Collins and Mike Rounds, who cite the importance of public broadcasting services, but there is pressure within the Republican party to pass the measure. As the Senate rushes to act before a Friday deadline, the outcome remains uncertain amid vocal debate on the future of public media funding.