Trump Targets Public Broadcasting with Executive Order Halt to Federal Funds
President Trump signed an order to cut funding for NPR and PBS, sparking national debate on public media bias and independence amid legal challenges.
It’s a controversy still raging from the West Wing to the Capitol.
Here's how Trump's order to cut federal funding to NPR and PBS could impact Illinois
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This is definitely part of a much larger strategy, that the president is pushing back on all of the organizations and institutions that he believes are against him and his agenda.
A look at Trump's executive order targeting public media funding
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Government funding for news media is outdated and unnecessary due to the wide variety of options available to American citizens, according to the order.
Trump pulls federal funding for public broadcasters, cites biased…
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The order calls government funding for news organizations "not only outdated and unnecessary but corrosive to the appearance of journalistic independence."
Donald Trump Signs Executive Order to Slash NPR and PBS Budgets
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The important thing to recognize now is that the rescission path is far preferable to the executive-order path—and not just because it avoids those legal problems.
Trump tries to defund NPR and PBS by executive order
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So far, the pushback has not stopped Trump from continuing his attacks on public institutions, which PBS noted go beyond the CPB and include efforts to cut off hundreds of millions of dollars in funding to artists, libraries, museums, theaters, and others, as well as efforts to withhold federal research and education funds from universities.
“Blatantly unlawful”: Trump slammed for trying to defund PBS, NPR
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The current threat is seen as the most serious in the system’s history.
PBS chief decries Trump’s executive order directing federal funding cuts to PBS and NPR as unlawful
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Given the almost certain legal challenge that will come for Trump's EO, it's unclear how his move will affect NPR and PBS for now.
PBS, NPR blast 'blatantly unlawful' Trump executive order halting public funding, vow challenges
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The Corporation for Public Broadcasting pointed out that Congress controls its funding, not the president.
CPB fires back at Trump's executive order pulling funding for NPR, PBS
ABC News·1d·ReliableThis source consistently reports facts with minimal bias, demonstrating high-quality journalism and accuracy.CenterThis outlet is balanced or reflects centrist views.But the current threat is seen as the most serious in the system’s history.
PBS chief decries Trump's executive order directing federal funding cuts to PBS and NPR as unlawful
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While NPR’s CEO Katherine Maher told Congress in March that the outlet was nonpartisan, a cursory analysis of their stories in the past decade appears to show they have a liberal bent.
Trump Yanks Federal Funding For ‘Biased’ Left-Wing Media Orgs NPR And PBS
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The loss of this indirect funding will be the more devastating.
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The order argues that government funding of news media in this environment is not only outdated and unnecessary but corrosive to the appearance of journalistic independence.
Trump axes funding to PBS, NPR in new executive order
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Government funding of news media in this environment is not only outdated and unnecessary but corrosive to the appearance of journalistic independence.
Trump cuts federal funding for NPR and PBS over ‘biased’ coverage
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The US president has long had an antagonistic relationship with most mainstream news media, previously describing them as the “enemy of the people”.
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Trump has long sought to end federal funding for public media.
Donald Trump’s Latest Executive Order Directs An End To Federal Funding For NPR And PBS
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Government funding of news media in this environment is not only outdated and unnecessary but corrosive to the appearance of journalistic independence.
Trump Orders to Cut Federal Funding for NPR and PBS, Citing Biased Reporting
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Since back in the White House, Mr. Trump has called for an end to taxpayer funding to all government-funded press outlets.
Trump Strips Funding for PBS, NPR With New Executive Order
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Government funding of news media in this environment is not only outdated and unnecessary but corrosive to the appearance of journalistic independence.
Trump signs executive order to stop federal funding for NPR and PBS
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Public Broadcasting CEO: Trump Has No Authority to Defund
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Children are being exposed to an unprecedented amount of online pornography, much of which is violent and misogynistic.
Trump orders end of NPR's federal funding. And, judge blocks use of Alien Enemies Act
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The White House has said that funding of news media is "not only outdated and unnecessary but corrosive to the appearance of journalistic independence" and that the media landscape has become more "diverse".
Trump signs executive order to block funding to National Public Radio
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Trump's latest attempt to use federal funding as leverage against institutions he does not view favorably.
Trump signs executive order that aims to cut funding for PBS and NPR
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Without the federal funding, some local stations could be forced off the air, especially in rural areas that are Republican strongholds.
Trump orders Corporation for Public Broadcasting to end federal funding for NPR and PBS | Business
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The broadcasters get roughly half-a-billion dollars in public money through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and have been preparing for the possibility of stiff cuts since Mr. Trump's election, as Republicans have long complained about them.
Trump signs executive order cutting funding to PBS, NPR
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The president's order stated that NPR and PBS no longer served a meaningful purpose warranting taxpayer funding because there are so many private media choices in the digital era.
Trump signs order ending taxpayer funding for NPR and PBS
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Summary
On May 1, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order ceasing federal funding for NPR and PBS, accusing these outlets of promoting 'radical, woke propaganda.' The order mandates the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to halt disbursements, which could affect thousands of public media stations nationwide. PBS CEO Paula Kerger denounced the move as unlawful, emphasizing its threat to critical services, especially in rural areas. Congress members, including U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, called the order dangerous for democracy. Legal battles are anticipated as the CPB asserts its independence from Trump's authority. Local stations brace for uncertain futures.
Perspectives
Trump's executive order aims to halt federal funding for PBS and NPR, with claims that these organizations exhibit biased reporting and ideological propaganda.
The order instructs the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to stop direct funding and revise grants to prevent taxpayer dollars from supporting NPR and PBS, indicating a strong executive push against perceived bias.
Concerns about the legality of the order arise since the CPB is not technically a government agency, raising questions about the president's authority over its funding and operations.
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