Trump Signs Executive Order to Cut Federal Funding for NPR and PBS

President Donald Trump issued an executive order late Thursday aimed at terminating public funding for National Public Radio and PBS, citing what he described as “biased and partisan news coverage.”

The order instructs the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) to “cease federal funding for NPR and PBS” within the limits of the law. This decision could potentially face legal challenges.

“Unlike in 1967, when the CPB was established, today’s media landscape is characterized by a plethora of diverse and innovative news sources,” the executive order states. “In this context, government funding for news media is not only outdated and unnecessary, but it also undermines the perception of journalistic independence.”

Trump and his supporters, including Elon Musk, have consistently criticized NPR and PBS for allegedly being biased and promoting left-leaning agendas, a claim that leaders of both organizations firmly reject. Just last month, Trump urged their defunding on Truth Social, labeling them as “RADICAL LEFT ‘MONSTERS’ THAT SO BADLY HURT OUR COUNTRY!”

Currently, NPR and PBS receive approximately half a billion dollars each in public funding and also generate revenue through sponsorship. NPR asserts that less than 1% of its funding comes from public sources.

However, Trump contended in his order that the CPB has failed to uphold the principles of fairness and impartiality that should define its public mission.

“Which viewpoints NPR and PBS advocate doesn’t matter. What matters is that neither organization offers a fair, accurate, or unbiased representation of current events to taxpaying citizens,” he stated.

PBS and NPR did not respond promptly to NBC News’ request for comment.

In response to a draft memo to Congress outlining the funding cut, an NPR spokesperson stated last month: “Cutting funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting would significantly harm American communities nationwide that depend on public radio for reliable local and national news, cultural content, emergency alerts, and public safety information.”

Paula Kerger, CEO and president of PBS, remarked last month that an initiative to defund the organization would “disrupt the crucial services PBS and local member stations provide to the American populace.”

“There’s nothing more American than PBS, and our work is only possible due to the bipartisan support we have consistently received from Congress,” she added.

Three members of the CPB board were dismissed from their positions via email earlier this week, leaving only two remaining. The three who were removed have filed a lawsuit, but their legal representatives were unable to identify any immediate irreparable harm their clients were facing.

Consequently, the judge mandated that the Trump administration must provide 48 hours’ notice before appointing new board members, either acting or interim. Board members are to be selected by the president and confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

The Committee to Protect Journalists reported on Wednesday that Trump’s executive actions in his first 100 days have created a “chilling effect that could limit media freedoms,” including restricting access to the regular pool of reporters covering the presidency and renewing FCC investigations into networks, including NBC News.

Former NPR editor Uri Berliner resigned last month and authored an essay for a conservative publication, critiquing the network’s liberal stances and lack of political diversity. Nevertheless, he emphasized that he does not advocate for defunding NPR.

The Trump administration has repeatedly restricted journalists from covering events at the Oval Office and expelled reporters from their workplaces at the Pentagon, in a series of actions that critics label as attacks on the efforts of independent news organizations to report on his administration.

This article first appeared on NBCNews.com.