Save PBS and NPR

On May 1, Trump signed an executive order to immediately cease all federal funding for PBS and NPR. This will cut $535 million in annual federal funding, which is less than 0.008% of the federal budget, but 15% of the PBS budget and 1% of the NPR budget.

Local stations will also have their federal funding cut, and they rely on it extensively, for everything from educational programs and music to satellite service and emergency alert systems.

Funding shortages are expected to cause program cancellations and station shutdowns—especially in rural areas—as financial reserves dwindle.

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.

Timeline

• 3/15/2025: H.R.1968 became law, after passing the House and the Senate, guaranteeing $535 million for PBS and NPR in 2027 (years 2025–2026 were already funded).
• 5/01/2025: Trump signed 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.
• GOAL: Congress must keep appropriations for PBS and NPR in the budget. Federal courts must order Trump to release the funds.