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Senate Backs Trump’s Move to Defund NPR, PBS in Blow to Independent Media

July 23, 2025

The Senate has approved President Trump's demand to rescind $9 billion in federal spending, including $1. 1 billion from public broadcasting, in a narrow 51-48 vote. The cut specifically targets the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which funds NPR and PBS and supports over 1,500 local public radio and television stations nationwide.

Who is affected

  • More than 1,500 local public radio and television stations nationwide
  • NPR and PBS networks
  • Rural and underserved communities that rely on public broadcasting
  • Viewers and listeners of public media programming
  • Employees of public media stations facing potential layoffs
  • Producers of content for public broadcasting (like Fred Rogers Productions)
  • Millions of Americans who rely on public media for news, culture, education, and civic life

What action is being taken

  • The Senate is approving a $9 billion rescission in previously approved federal spending
  • $1.1 billion is being cut from public broadcasting funding
  • The House must vote on the bill by Friday to finalize the cuts
  • Public media stations are preparing for layoffs and reduced programming
  • Opponents of the cuts are speaking out against the decision

Why it matters

  • The CPB receives $535 million annually and serves as the financial foundation for stations in rural and underserved communities
  • Federal funding helps stations operate broadcast towers and cover local news
  • For every public dollar provided, stations raise nearly $7 from other sources
  • Without federal funding, small stations may shut down entirely while larger affiliates would likely reduce news coverage and cut programming
  • The cuts would create a ripple effect affecting national shows and children's programming
  • The White House has characterized the defunding as targeting allegedly "biased" and "radical" media

What's next

  • The House must approve the bill by Friday to finalize the cuts under the "rescissions" process
  • If approved, the funding cuts would impact federal funding from October 2025 through September 2027

Read full article from source: The Washington Informer