President Donald Trump has signed a sweeping executive order officially ending all federal funding for National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), calling the long-standing taxpayer support for the outlets both outdated and politically corrosive.
The order instructs the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) to cease all direct and indirect funding to NPR, PBS, and their affiliates by June 30. The decision follows mounting concerns about ideological bias, misuse of federal funds, and what critics have long viewed as a cozy relationship between publicly funded media and progressive political interests.
“For too long, taxpayers have been forced to subsidize media outlets that serve as little more than propaganda arms for the Left,” President Trump stated. “Government funding of media compromises journalistic independence and violates the principle of a free and competitive press.”
The CPB, created in 1967, has traditionally received over $500 million annually from Congress, a portion of which is passed along to NPR and PBS stations across the country. While the networks often claim most of their funding comes from sponsors and private donors, public funds still make up a significant share—about 15% of PBS’s revenue and roughly 10% for NPR affiliates, much of it funneled through state and local stations.
Trump’s move to eliminate the funding reflects a broader push to end taxpayer support for institutions that openly champion left-wing narratives under the guise of public service. The order also directs the Department of Health and Human Services to investigate NPR and PBS for potential violations of anti-discrimination laws within their programming and hiring practices.
PBS President Paula Kerger responded by defending her organization’s programming, arguing that PBS serves an educational purpose and provides public safety alerts, especially in rural areas. But critics note that these justifications do not excuse the overt ideological tilt in their content or the expectation that taxpayers foot the bill.
In a last-ditch effort to preserve its funding, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting has filed a legal challenge, arguing that its nonprofit status places it beyond the president’s authority. But legal experts say the Constitution is clear: Congress controls the purse strings, and no entity has an inherent right to taxpayer money.
The Trump administration’s action sends a clear message—media organizations should be funded by their audience, not propped up by federal dollars. With trust in corporate media at historic lows, the defunding of NPR and PBS is seen by many conservatives as a long-overdue correction.
As the government begins to dismantle the federal broadcasting subsidy model, local stations will need to stand on their own—just like every other media outlet in the country.
The post Trump Defunds NPR And PBS: ‘No Media Outlet Has A Constitutional Right To Taxpayer Subsidies’ appeared first on Real News Now.
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