The Biden administration is facing a new challenge as the Trump administration takes steps to eliminate federal funding for public broadcasting entities PBS and NPR through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). A draft memo from Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought details plans to cut $1.1 billion in CPB funding alongside $8.3 billion in foreign aid reductions through USAID.
The proposal, which falls under a “rescissions” framework for withdrawing previously allocated funds, was initiated at the request of Republican congressional leadership. Once formally submitted to Capitol Hill, Congress will have a 45-day window to either approve or reject the measure, with White House officials expressing confidence in its passage.
The initiative is being coordinated with Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency as part of broader efforts to reduce federal spending. The memo specifically cites concerns about perceived “anti-conservative bias” in public broadcasting as a key motivation for the funding cuts.
According to documents obtained by the New York Post, the
administration aims to address what it considers wasteful spending through a two-pronged approach: first by targeting foreign aid expenditure, proposing to cut $8.3 billion from a total of $22 billion in FY2025 funds, and second by completely eliminating federal support for the CPB.
The proposal has gained particular attention following comments from NPR CEO Katherine Maher, who reportedly described former President Trump as a “fascist” and “deranged racist.” Trump himself has been vocal about defunding these organizations, recently posting on Truth Social that “NPR and PBS, two horrible and completely biased platforms … should be DEFUNDED by Congress, IMMEDIATELY.”
Supporting this initiative, Representative Ronny Jackson (R-TX) has introduced legislation to cut federal funding for both broadcasting networks. Jackson argues that these organizations have strayed from their original mission of providing unbiased content and instead promote left-wing viewpoints.
The legislation has attracted significant Republican support, with several prominent co-sponsors including DOGE Subcommittee Chairwoman Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and various representatives from Texas, Arizona, Florida, and Georgia. Notable co-sponsors include
Representatives Andy Biggs, Tim Burchett, Michael Cloud, Mike Collins, Neal Dunn, Paul Gosar, Troy Nehls, Chip Roy, Keith Self, and Randy Weber.
Representative Greene, who chairs a relevant subcommittee, has been particularly outspoken about the initiative, stating that recent hearings have demonstrated these organizations function as
“taxpayer-funded PR arms of the Democrat Party.” She emphasized that the 2024 election results provided a clear mandate for such action.
The proposal forms part of a larger effort by the administration to identify and eliminate what it considers wasteful government spending. The memo specifically references ongoing efforts to target “waste, fraud, and abuse in Federal spending through executive action, DOGE review, and other efforts by departments and agencies.”
If approved, this would represent one of the most significant changes to public broadcasting funding in recent history, potentially transforming the landscape of public media in the United States. The proposal has reignited debates about the role of government funding in public broadcasting and the balance between public service and political neutrality in media organizations.
The 45-day congressional review period will be crucial in determining the fate of these longstanding public broadcasting institutions, with both supporters and opponents preparing for an intense legislative battle over the future of public media funding in America.