President Trump Orders Halt to Federal Funds for NPR and PBS

President Trump signs executive order ending federal funding for NPR and PBS as the administration intensifies its stance against media outlets accused of political bias and taxpayer-subsidized partisanship.

Quick Takes

Trump’s executive order directs the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to cease federal funding for NPR and PBS, citing alleged biased reporting
The order impacts approximately $535 million in annual congressional funding that currently supports public broadcasting
NPR receives about 1% of its funding directly from federal sources, while PBS receives approximately 15%
Small rural stations are expected to be most significantly affected by the funding cuts
The order also targets other federally subsidized media organizations, including the U.S. Agency for Global Media

Trump Takes Action Against “Biased Media”

President Trump has signed an executive order to halt federal funding for National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), fulfilling a campaign promise to address what he views as political bias in taxpayer-funded media. The directive orders the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) to immediately cease distributing federal funds to these organizations, with the administration claiming that government-funded broadcasting is outdated in today’s diverse media landscape. The Trump team’s “Rapid Response 47” account announced the action on social media platform X, declaring an end to taxpayer subsidization of NPR and PBS.

The executive order states: “Which viewpoints NPR and PBS promote does not matter. What does matter is that neither entity presents a fair, accurate or unbiased portrayal of current events to tax-paying citizens.” The directive extends beyond just CPB funding, targeting support from other federal sources including the Department of Education and National Endowment for the Humanities, while also instructing the Health and Human Services Secretary to ensure compliance with anti-discrimination employment laws.

🚨 BREAKING: @POTUS just signed an executive order ENDING the taxpayer subsidization of NPR and PBS — which receive millions from taxpayers to spread radical, woke propaganda disguised as “news.”

Here is the text of the order:

By the authority vested in me as President by the…

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 2, 2025

Financial Impact and Congressional Allocation

The current fiscal year allocation from Congress to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting stands at $535 million. However, the distribution of these funds differs significantly between organizations. NPR receives approximately 1% of its operating budget directly from federal sources, while PBS depends more heavily on government support, with about 15% of its funding coming through CPB. The majority of public media funds support local stations across the country, with television operations requiring more financial resources than radio due to higher production costs.

The executive order also requests that Congress rescind already appropriated funding for these organizations. This aspect of the directive may face legal challenges, as federal judges have previously ruled against some of Trump’s efforts to defund these media organizations, citing that funds were already appropriated by Congress. The administration has also been working to defund the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which oversees Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

Network Response and Rural Impact

Leaders from both NPR and PBS have rejected accusations of biased reporting and defended their organizations’ missions. Network executives testified at a recent House oversight committee hearing addressing allegations of ideological bias. The programming provided by these networks reaches over 99% of the American population, with educational and locally focused content being particularly important in rural communities. Analysts suggest that small rural stations, which often rely more heavily on federal funding, could be most significantly impacted by these cuts.

The order encourages NPR and PBS to seek private financial support and comply with FCC guidelines moving forward. Simultaneously, the FCC has launched an investigation into both networks for potential violations of laws against commercial advertisements. The Trump administration has also attempted to remove three board members of the CPB, including a high-profile entertainment executive, though the CPB has filed suit in response to these efforts to remove Democratic board members appointed during the Biden administration.

Legal Framework and Implementation

The executive order cites several legal provisions, including 47 U.S.C. 396(f)(3), which prohibits public broadcasting entities from contributing to or supporting any political party. It also references anti-discrimination provisions in 47 U.S.C. 397(15) and 398(b). The directive includes a severability clause ensuring that if any part is invalidated, the remainder stays in effect. Implementation is to proceed in accordance with applicable laws and existing budgetary constraints.

Before signing the order, President Trump had vocally criticized both networks on social media, writing in all caps: “REPUBLICANS MUST DEFUND AND TOTALLY DISASSOCIATE THEMSELVES FROM NPR & PBS, THE RADICAL LEFT ‘MONSTERS’ THAT SO BADLY HURT OUR COUNTRY!” The executive order emphasizes that taxpayer funds should only support media coverage that is fair, accurate, unbiased, and nonpartisan, arguing that the current landscape of abundant alternative media resources eliminates the necessity for government-funded broadcasting.