WASHINGTON, D.C. — Former U.S. President Donald Trump has signed a new executive order eliminating federal funding for public broadcasters PBS and NPR, a move the White House says is intended to protect taxpayers from subsidizing what it calls “partisan misinformation.”
The executive order, signed Thursday, directs a halt to federal financial support for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which provides funding to both PBS and NPR. This decision marks a significant shift in media policy and comes amid longstanding conservative criticism that public media outlets lean left politically.
A White House statement claimed the order would “ensure taxpayer dollars are no longer used to fund biased news coverage,” and instead be redirected toward more neutral public services. The administration accused both PBS and NPR of promoting content that “fails to reflect balanced perspectives.”
Critics argue the move could severely impact access to educational and cultural programming, particularly in rural areas where public broadcasting is a key media source. PBS and NPR have not yet released official statements in response to the executive action.
The order is expected to face legal and political challenges, as supporters of public media rally to preserve funding for what they describe as vital, nonpartisan public service journalism and educational content.
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