Save PBS and NPR

On July 21, Trump will revoke all federal funding for PBS and NPR. Public media had been guaranteed $535 million in annual federal funding, which was less than 0.008% of the federal budget, but 15% of the PBS budget and 1% of the NPR budget.

More than 70% of this federal funding went to local stations, who relied on it extensively, for everything from emergency alert systems and satellite service to educational programs and music. As financial reserves begin to dwindle, program cancellations and station shutdowns are expected.

Why it matters

This is part of a larger attack on the freedom of the press. We need an independent media or we will lose our ability to discern fact from fiction.

PBS and NPR play a vital role in our democracy and community life, from broadcasting emergency information during natural disasters to teaching our kids the ABCs on Sesame Street. They are a lifeline of information and civic engagement—often the only outlets providing local news, educational kids’ shows, and cultural programming free from corporate and political agendas.

Events

• 3/15/2025: H.R.1968 guarantees $535 million for PBS and NPR for 2027 (years 2025–2026 were already funded), after passing the House and passing the Senate.
• 5/01/2025: Trump signs an executive order to immediately cease all federal funding for PBS and NPR. The money is still appropriated, but won’t be paid. Similar executive orders have been ruled to be illegal in federal court.
• 7/24/2025: H.R.4 removes all previously-allocated funding for PBS and NPR, after passing the House and passing the Senate.
• GOAL: Congress must restore funding for public media in the Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations.