Trump moves to defund NPR and PBS, sparking free speech concerns

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
2 May 2025 08:23

A new executive order by Donald Trump instructs the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to stop funding NPR and PBS, intensifying tensions over media independence and free speech in the US.

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President Donald Trump arrives at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Florida, Thursday, May 1, 2025. (AP)

US President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at cutting federal funding to National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), the White House confirmed. The move marks the former US president’s latest effort to use federal resources as leverage against media outlets he has frequently criticized.

According to the order released late Thursday, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), the nonprofit agency responsible for distributing federal funds to public media, has been instructed to “cease direct funding” to both NPR and PBS. The executive directive accused the two outlets of partisanship and bias.

“The CPB Board shall cancel existing direct funding to the maximum extent allowed by law and shall decline to provide future funding,” the order states.

Both NPR and PBS have issued warnings in the past, saying such funding cuts would severely impact their ability to deliver reliable news and programming. They emphasized that many Americans depend on public broadcasting for trustworthy local and national coverage, particularly during emergencies.

The two organizations also cautioned that defunding public media would undermine essential services, especially for rural communities that rely on non-commercial stations.

The Trump administration has previously targeted various media and academic institutions, accusing them of being ideologically skewed. Universities such as Harvard and Columbia, along with NPR and PBS, have been labeled as leftist, Marxist, and "woke" by Trump's allies. These accusations have often been accompanied by threats to withdraw funding.

Broader attacks on academic and media institutions

Human rights advocates and civil society groups have raised alarms over the implications for free speech and academic freedom, viewing the attacks as politically motivated attempts to stifle dissenting voices.

In a related development, the CPB filed a lawsuit against the White House on Monday after Trump attempted to remove three of its five board members.

Established by Congress in 1967, the CPB currently provides financial support to more than 1,500 locally managed public radio and television stations across the country. Media reports also indicate that the White House intends to ask Congress to rescind $1.1 billion in funding allocated to the CPB, equivalent to two years’ worth of appropriations.