Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Texas, is celebrating President Donald Trump’s leadership in sending a $9.4 billion ‘rescissions’ package to Congress, which he believes will ‘finally’ defund NPR and PBS. Jackson, who has introduced a bill to defund these outlets in every Congress since his election, called them ‘taxpayer-funded propaganda arms of the radical Left’ and ‘nothing more than fake news.’ The White House is expected to include cuts to both NPR and PBS in the proposal, which is part of a broader effort by Republican officials to slash government spending. The package, known as a ‘rescissions’ package, is sent to Congress, and lawmakers have 45 days to consider it before it is voided. The House Freedom Caucus, which is pushing for the House to vote on the package the same week it lands, is a major supporter of the proposal.
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has indicated that it will primarily target federal funding for NPR, PBS, and the U.S. Agency for International Development. Jackson, who has long advocated for the defunding of these outlets, stated that he is ‘excited’ to see the DOGE package ‘finally cut off their funding.’ He claimed that under Trump’s leadership, Congress will deliver on ‘ending the outrageous practice of forcing hardworking Americans to pay for left-wing attacks on our values, our children, and our president.’ The proposal follows a House DOGE Subcommittee hearing in March, where NPR’s Katherine Maher and PBS’ Paula Kerger defended their organizations. During the hearing, Maher acknowledged that NPR had botched coverage of Hunter Biden’s laptop, calling it a ‘mistake,’ while Kerger faced criticism for PBS’ inclusion of content like ‘Real Boy,’ which follows a transgender character exploring sexuality. Following the hearing, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., called the outlets ‘out of touch with everyday Americans,’ stating that the American people would not continue to allow such ‘propaganda’ to be funded through the federal government with taxpayer dollars.
This move represents part of a larger strategy by the Trump administration and its allies to reshape federal spending priorities and influence public media. The inclusion of NPR and PBS in the ‘rescissions’ package highlights the ongoing political tensions surrounding government funding for media outlets and the broader debate over the role of public broadcasting in American society. As the debate over funding continues, the future of NPR and PBS remains uncertain, with their leadership and supporters facing increasing scrutiny and pressure from both within and outside Congress.