CPB Sues Trump Over Board Member Firings Amid Control Battle
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting has filed a lawsuit against President Trump for his attempt to remove three board members, citing illegal authority.
Summary
Following President Trump's attempt to terminate three board members of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), citing illegal authority, the CPB has filed a lawsuit seeking a restraining order to block these firings. The board members argue that they cannot be removed by the President as the organization was designed to be insulated from governmental interference. The CPB, which distributes substantial funding to public broadcasters, faces ongoing threats to its autonomy amid Trump's wider campaign against public media. A court hearing is set to address the CPB's request.
Sources (6)
- The CPB is a private corporation established by Congress, designed to insulate public media from governmental control, which raises questions about the legality of Trump's actions to remove its board members.
- The CPB's lawsuit argues that the president lacks the authority to terminate board members, as the law does not include a provision allowing for their removal once appointed by the Senate.
- The Trump administration may be seeking to defund public media, which could have severe implications for local stations reliant on federal support, despite calls for this funding to be maintained.
CBS News·22d· "…The three ousted officials argue the Trump administration risks incurring damage of the organization by alleged overreach."
NPR·22d· "…Trump's assault on public broadcasting is part of his broader war on the media, which encompasses his own private lawsuits, regulatory pressures, on journalists' , mass cancellation of news subscriptions used by federal agencies, against prosecutors' investigations of reporters and more."
Deadline·22d· "…Trump’s effort to remove the three CPB board members dovetails with his desire to eliminate opposition voices — or even those he perceives to be."