President Trump moves to end federal funding for NPR and PBS

President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) to end federal funding for National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), both directly and indirectly. The order accuses the outlets of partisan bias and states that government support for news media is “outdated, unnecessary, and corrosive to the appearance of journalistic independence.”

According to Inside Radio: “The CPB, which receives $535 million annually in congressional funding, helps support more than 1,500 local public radio and TV stations. PBS member stations get about 15% of their revenue from CPB, while NPR stations receive around 10%; NPR itself gets just 1% of its funding directly from CPB.

“The order gives the CPB until June 30 to comply and also instructs federal agencies to identify and terminate any taxpayer dollars flowing to NPR or PBS. In addition, Trump tasked HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. with investigating whether the organizations comply with anti-discrimination employment laws.

“Trump, who has long criticized NPR and PBS as “biased” and “leftist,” reiterated that taxpayer money should not support “partisan news coverage.” A White House fact sheet claimed their content amounts to in-kind contributions to the Democratic Party, violating CPB’s mandate to remain nonpolitical.”

Of note, ABC News reports: “The nonprofit corporation that oversees National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting Service is firing back at President Donald Trump’s executive order to pull funding for the two popular media outlets.

“The Corporation for Public Broadcasting pointed out that Congress controls its funding, not the president.”