Trump’s administration has been endeavoring to dismantle the US Agency for Global Media, which encompasses Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, in conjunction with the action against PBS and NPR.
The president of PBS has declared that the executive order issued by US President Donald Trump, which sought to reduce public subsidies for both the broadcaster and the radio network NPR, was clearly unlawful.
According to Paula Kerger, CEO of the Public Broadcasting Service, the president’s order “endangers our capacity to provide the American public with educational programming, as we have done for the past 50 years.”
Kerger stated, “We are presently investigating all viable alternatives to enable PBS to continue to provide services to our member stations and the general public.”
The order mandates that the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and other federal agencies “cease Federal funding” for PBS and National Public Radio. Additionally, it mandates that they identify and eliminate indirect sources of public financing for the news organizations.
In a social media post announcing the signing, the White House stated that the outlets “receive millions from taxpayers to spread radical, woke propaganda disguised as ‘news.'”
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which distributes public funding to the two services, asserted that it is not a federal executive agency that is subject to Trump’s directives.
Earlier this week, the president announced that he was terminating three of the five remaining CPB board members, which jeopardized the organization’s ability to function. CPB promptly filed a lawsuit to prevent the termination.
The overwhelming majority of public funding for the services is allocated directly to the hundreds of local stations, which are supported by a combination of government funding, donations, and philanthropic grants.
Stations in lesser markets are particularly reliant on public funding and are most at risk from the cuts that Trump is proposing.
Broadcasters are subject to scrutiny
In the past, Republican leaders have frequently threatened public broadcasting. However, local connections have largely allowed them to avoid reductions, as legislators are unwilling to be perceived as responsible for the closure of stations in their districts.
However, the present peril is considered the most severe in the system’s history.
It is also the most recent action taken by Trump and his administration to exert control over or restrict institutions whose actions or perspectives he disagrees with by utilizing federal powers.
Donald Trump has removed leaders, placed staff on administrative leave, and cut off hundreds of millions of dollars in funding to artists, libraries, museums, theaters, and other entities since assuming office for a second term in January.
Additionally, Trump has advocated for the withholding of federal research and education funds from universities and the retribution of law firms unless they agree to eliminate diversity programs and other measures that he considers objectionable.
The White House announced two weeks ago that it would request that Congress revoke funding for the CPB as part of a $9.1 billion (€8 billion) package of cuts.
Nevertheless, the bundle, which budget director Russell Vought indicated would likely be the first of several, has not yet been sent to Capitol Hill.
The action against PBS and NPR is being taken in conjunction with the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle the US Agency for Global Media, which includes Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. These entities were established to serve as models for independent news gathering in societies that impose press restrictions.
Those endeavors have encountered opposition from federal courts, which have determined in certain instances that the Trump administration may have exceeded its authority by withholding funds that Congress had allocated to the outlets.
The order, which Trump signed late on Thursday, accused the broadcasters of “bias” in their reporting.
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