President Trump Orders End to Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
EO cites media bias, calls government funding “outdated and unnecessary”
President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order (EO) on Thursday, May 1, directing the federal government to end all taxpayer funding for National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). The move aims to cut ties between public funds and media organizations the administration claims no longer represent nonpartisan journalism.
In the Order, Ending Taxpayer Subsidization Of Biased Media, the President criticized the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which oversees federal support for NPR and PBS, stating that government funding for media is “outdated and unnecessary” in today’s diverse media landscape. He argued it undermines the perception of journalistic independence.
“At the very least, Americans have the right to expect that if their tax dollars fund public broadcasting at all, they fund only fair, accurate, unbiased, and nonpartisan news coverage,” the Order states.
The order emphasizes that no media outlet has a constitutional right to taxpayer subsidies and reaffirms the administration’s policy that public funds should not support organizations perceived to carry political bias.
According to its FY 2025 budget, the CPB expects to receive approximately $535 million in federal funding. Much of that funding is distributed to public media outlets nationwide.
The CPB was created in 1967 to promote independent, public-interest broadcasting. Now, the White House contends the organization now supports content that fails to meet its statutory obligations for impartiality. The CPB’s governing law prohibits it from contributing to political parties or engaging in partisan activity, as outlined in 47 U.S.C. § 396(f)(3) and § 396(e)(2).
The EO calls on the CPB to cancel all existing grants to NPR and PBS and to revise future grant eligibility rules to block direct or indirect funding. The CPB has until June 30, 2025, to implement these changes in its 2025 grant guidelines for television and radio stations.
Federal agencies have also been directed to identify and eliminate any contracts or grants that provide funding to NPR or PBS. Agencies must evaluate whether current agreements comply with federal law and take action in the event of noncompliance.
Additionally, the Secretary of Health and Human Services has been tasked with reviewing whether NPR and PBS meet non-discrimination requirements under the applicable federal statutes. If violations are found, corrective action will be required.
