President Donald Trump has signed an executive order directing federal agencies to eliminate funding for National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). The order targets both direct and indirect federal financial support, instructing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and related agencies to cease subsidies.
NPR receives a portion of its funding through CPB, which distributes nearly $500 million in public money annually. While CPB is a private nonprofit, the White House is also asking Congress to revoke its funding as part of a broader $9.1 billion package of budget cuts.
If enacted, the funding cuts could have significant effects on public radio stations across the country, including those in rural and mountainous regions like West Virginia. Stations such as Allegheny Mountain Radio, which serves communities along the West Virginia-Virginia border, rely heavily on CPB funding to operate.
CPB, NPR, and PBS leaders have indicated the executive order may face legal challenges, questioning its legality and scope, though the Trump administration has highlighted the ‘biased-nature’ of NPR to justify their cuts. The future of the proposed funding cuts now depends on congressional action and potential court rulings.
