PBS, NPR Funding Targeted: “Cultural Sabotage?”

The White House is seeking to significantly curtail federal funding for National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), labeling the organizations a “grift” that disseminates “radical, woke propaganda disguised as ‘news.'”

Budget Director Russ Vought has reportedly drafted a memo outlining a rescission plan to eliminate already-approved congressional funding, including $1.1 billion earmarked for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). This sum represents roughly two years of funding for the non-profit, which distributes funds to public broadcasting stations.

According to reports, Vought’s memo accuses CPB of a “lengthy history of anti-conservative bias.” The proposal also includes an $8.3 billion cut for USAID.

The $1.1 billion represents the bulk of federal funding for CPB. An exception would be made for approximately $100 million allocated for emergency communications. As the New York Times notes, CPB is “forward-funded” two years in advance to shield it from political interference. A considerable portion of the 2025 funding has already been disbursed to public broadcasters nationwide.

Earlier in March, the former President Trump stated on Truth Social that NPR and PBS are “two horrible and completely biased platforms” that “should be DEFUNDED by Congress, IMMEDIATELY.”

PBS CEO Paula Kerger responded in a statement, emphasizing that the proposed rescission of public media funding would “disrupt the essential service PBS and local member stations provide to the American people.” She highlighted the bipartisan support PBS has historically received from Congress and warned that “Americans will lose unique local programming and emergency services in times of crisis” without PBS member stations.

Markey Calls it “Cultural Sabotage”

Senator Ed Markey (D-Mass.) condemned the plan as “an outrageous and reckless attack on one of our most trusted civic institutions.” He emphasized the value of public television programming, from “PBS NewsHour” to “Sesame Street,” asserting that it “has set the gold standard for programming that empowers viewers, particularly young minds. Cutting off this lifeline is not budget discipline, it’s cultural sabotage.”

Bloomberg reports that the White House intends to submit the rescission package to Congress upon lawmakers’ return from their Easter recess on April 28th. This will trigger a 45-day period during which the administration can legally withhold the funds. Unless Congress votes against the plan or takes no action, the money must be released back to the designated recipients.

This rescission procedure, rarely used since 1979, requires only a simple majority in the Senate for approval and is not subject to a filibuster. A similar $15 billion spending cut package proposed by Trump in 2018 failed to pass the Senate.

CPB’s fiscal year 2025 expenses are projected at $545 million, with 66.9% allocated to TV programming and 22.3% to radio programming. The remainder covers administration and support.

NPR and PBS also receive funding from other sources. Corporate sponsorships are the primary revenue source for NPR, accounting for 36% of its income between 2020 and 2024. Member station fees contribute another 30%. Federal funding indirectly supports this category, as CPB provides annual grants to public radio stations that, in turn, pay NPR for programming.

PBS reported total expenses of $689 million and net assets of $348.5 million at the end of fiscal year 2024.

Additionally, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr has initiated an investigation into NPR and PBS, alleging violations of federal law prohibiting commercial advertisements on noncommercial educational broadcast stations. Both organizations maintain that their underwriting spots comply with the law.