President Donald Trump signed an executive order late Thursday ending federal funding for National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), citing concerns over media bias and the use of taxpayer dollars to support partisan coverage.
The order directs the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), the entity through which NPR and PBS receive federal subsidies, to cease all direct and indirect financial support to both outlets. The CPB has until June 30 to fully implement the president’s directive.
“Government funding of news media in this environment is not only outdated and unnecessary but corrosive to the appearance of journalistic independence,” the order states.
“The CPB Board shall cease direct funding to NPR and PBS, consistent with my Administration’s policy to ensure that Federal funding does not support biased and partisan news coverage.”
Trump also instructed the CPB to halt indirect funding through public radio and television stations.
The executive order mandates that CPB recipients, including licensees and permittees of public broadcast stations, must not use federal funds for programming or support of NPR or PBS.
While the move marks a significant change in federal media policy, both NPR and PBS are expected to continue operations.
Each outlet has a variety of funding sources, including foundation grants, corporate sponsorships, and individual donations.
According to NPR, only about 1% of its funding comes directly from the CPB. NPR’s member stations receive approximately 10% of their funding from the CPB.
PBS and its local stations receive roughly 15% of their revenues from the CPB.
The CPB is currently set to receive $535 million annually in congressional appropriations for fiscal years 2025 and 2026.
The executive order follows previous public statements by Trump advocating for the defunding of NPR and PBS.
In a March 27 post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, “NPR and PBS, two horrible and completely biased platforms … should be DEFUNDED by Congress, IMMEDIATELY.”
NPR and PBS, two horrible and completely biased platforms (Networks!), should be DEFUNDED by Congress, IMMEDIATELY. Republicans, don’t miss this opportunity to rid our Country of this giant SCAM, both being arms of the Radical Left Democrat Party. JUST SAY NO AND, MAKE AMERICA…
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) March 27, 2025
The president’s order further argues that tax dollars should only fund media that provides “fair, accurate, unbiased, and nonpartisan news coverage.”
It adds that “no media outlet has a constitutional right to taxpayer subsidies,” and that the federal government is within its authority to decide which types of activities should receive public funds.
A White House fact sheet accompanying the order stated that NPR and PBS serve as “significant in-kind contributions to the Democrat party and its political cause,” and that such activity violates the CPB’s statutory requirement to operate in a nonpolitical capacity.