WASHINGTON D.C. – In a monumental shift for American public media, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) announced on Friday, August 1, 2025, that it will begin winding down its operations following a decisive withdrawal of federal funding spearheaded by President Donald Trump.1 This move, part of a larger $9 billion rescissions package signed into law in July, is set to eliminate the primary federal support for NPR, PBS, and hundreds of local public media stations nationwide.2
The CPB, which has served as a cornerstone of American public broadcasting for nearly six decades, stated that the majority of its roughly 100 employees would be laid off by September 30, with a small transition team remaining until January 2026 to finalize operations.3 CPB President and CEO Patricia Harrison expressed deep regret, stating, “Despite the extraordinary efforts of millions of Americans who called, wrote, and petitioned Congress to preserve federal funding for CPB, we now face the difficult reality of closing our operations.”4
The funding cuts, totaling $1.1 billion that had been appropriated for the CPB through fiscal year 2027, were part of the Rescissions Act of 2025 (H.R. 4).5 This legislation, which also included significant cuts to foreign aid, passed Congress along largely party lines after President Trump aggressively pushed for its approval. Trump has long been a vocal critic of public broadcasting, frequently accusing NPR and PBS of political bias and labeling them “liberal disinformation machines” and a “total scam.”6
While national organizations like NPR and PBS generate substantial revenue from private donations and other sources, the CPB’s federal grants were crucial, particularly for their network of over 1,500 local stations, especially those in smaller, rural, and underserved communities.7 In many of these areas, federal money accounted for a significant portion—sometimes 25% to over 50%—of a station’s total budget.8
The CPB’s demise means these local stations will now face unprecedented financial challenges. While national programming like “PBS NewsHour” and “NPR’s Morning Edition” are not expected to disappear overnight, the loss of foundational CPB support threatens the survival of many local affiliates.9 Experts warn that some stations may be forced to reduce staff, cut programming, or even go off the air entirely, potentially creating news and information deserts in certain regions.10
For President Trump and his Republican allies, the defunding of CPB marks a significant political victory, fulfilling a long-standing goal to sever federal ties with public media.11 For advocates of public broadcasting, it represents the end of an era and a profound blow to a system established to ensure educational and cultural programming accessibility across the nation. The impact on the media landscape and local communities is expected to be far-reaching.
