President Trump has signed an executive order aimed at terminating federal funding for the National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS).

On May 1, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump holds up a signed executive order during a ceremony in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, D.C.

Trump Signs Executive Order Aiming to Eliminate Federal Funding for Public Media

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order directing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) to halt federal funding for the nation’s two largest public media outlets, National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), escalating long-standing conservative criticism that the broadcasters exhibit political bias.

The order instructs the CPB board to end all direct financial support for NPR and PBS "to the maximum extent allowed by law" and to decline any future funding. It also mandates that the board work to "minimize or eliminate" indirect funding for the networks. Additionally, the order directs all federal agencies to identify and terminate any funding streams supporting the two broadcasters. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been tasked with launching an investigation into alleged employment discrimination at both organizations.

While the CPB distributes roughly $535 million annually in taxpayer funds to public radio and television stations nationwide, it is a private nonprofit entity established by Congress in 1967, explicitly insulated from executive control. The corporation is currently engaged in a legal battle with the Trump administration after the White House attempted to remove three of its board members earlier this week.

“CPB is not a federal executive agency subject to the President’s authority,” said CPB President and CEO Patricia Harrison in a statement. “Congress directly authorized and funded CPB to be a private nonprofit corporation wholly independent of the federal government.”

PBS President and CEO Paula Kerger condemned the executive action, calling it "blatantly unlawful" and warning it threatens the organization’s ability to deliver educational programming to the public. “We are currently exploring all options to allow PBS to continue to serve our member stations and all Americans,” she said.

This latest move follows repeated efforts by the Trump administration to defund public broadcasting. During his first term, Trump proposed eliminating CPB funding in multiple budget drafts, though Congress consistently overruled the cuts—underscoring bipartisan local support despite national Republican opposition.

The White House has also indicated it plans to ask Congress to rescind appropriated funds already designated for the CPB over the next two years. Kerger noted the urgency of the situation, saying, “These are funds that we were already counting on.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson acknowledged the debate around the anticipated rescission request, stating, “I don’t know what the final outcome is going to be, but I can tell there’s a lot of thoughtful debate about it.”

Critics argue that terminating CPB funding could disproportionately impact smaller and rural stations that rely heavily on federal support. “These are the last locally owned broadcasters in these communities,” said Ed Ulman, CEO of Alaska Public Media.

While larger stations with robust donor bases may endure funding cuts, advocates warn that the survival of smaller outlets—often vital sources of local news and emergency alerts—could be at risk.