In May 2025, President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14290, titled “Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Biased Media,” directing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) to cease all federal funding to National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) by June 30, 2025. The order claims that taxpayer money should not support what it describes as “radical, woke propaganda” in public media.
The CPB, a nonprofit entity created by Congress, receives $535 million for 2025-2026. NPR and PBS rely on this funding to support local stations, especially in rural areas where media options are limited. For instance, WQLN, an NPR and PBS affiliate in Erie, Pennsylvania, depends on federal funding for about 40% of its budget. Without this support, the station faces significant challenges in maintaining its operations.
Public response to the executive order has been largely negative. A 2017 national survey found that 73% of voters, including 62% of Republicans, oppose eliminating federal funding for public television. Voters view public television as a valuable resource for children’s educational programming and public safety communications.
In response, NPR and PBS have expressed plans to challenge the executive order in court, arguing that it violates the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967. They are also exploring alternative funding sources to continue their programming.
This development highlights ongoing debates over the role of government funding in public media and its impact on journalistic independence and accessibility.