Conservatives were quick to celebrate the announcement that the Corporation for Public Broadcasting would be shutting down after President Trump and Congress cut its funding.
Conservatives took a victory lap after the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) announced it would be closing its doors Friday after President Donald Trump and the GOP-led Congress cut its federal funding last month. “PROMISES MADE, PROMISES KEPT,” House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. exclaimed on X. “The days of the American people being forced to fund biased political outlets ARE OVER.”
“Proud to lead the rescission package President Trump signed to finally pull the plug on the Corporation for Public Broadcasting,” House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., wrote. “$1.1B returned to taxpayers. No more public dollars for partisan propaganda. Republicans are ending wasteful spending and putting America First.”
Prominent liberals and media figures have condemned the cuts to PBS and NPR, calling it a “perilous moment.” Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, called out the organization for failing to vet editorial standards at NPR and PBS before handing over millions in tax dollars, resulting in what she described as “blatantly biased partisan propaganda.” Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, similarly stated that “NPR and PBS are free to continue their biased programming. But not with your tax dollars. That’s done.” Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., echoed this sentiment by declaring, “The Corporation for Public Broadcasting—the scheme bureaucrats used to funnel taxpayer money to NPR and PBS—will soon be no more. That’s great news for every American who doesn’t want their tax dollars funding left-wing opinion journalism EVER again.”
Rural NPR stations have expressed disappointment but remain determined to survive following the elimination of federal funding. Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk remarked, “Bye-bye!” National Review editor Philip Klein tipped his hat to the president by praising him for taking action that other Republicans had hesitated to perform.
In a press release, the CPB stated it would initiate an “orderly wind-down of its operations” as a result of the recission package passed by Republicans and signed into law by Trump last month. The statement highlighted the CPB’s 60-year role in supporting public media, including educational content, journalism, emergency communications, and cultural programming, all aimed at serving communities across the country. CPB President and CEO Patricia Harrison noted that efforts to salvage funding for public media were unsuccessful, stating that “we now face the difficult reality of closing our operations.”
Employees of the CPB were informed that most of their positions would conclude at the close of the fiscal year at the end of September. Harrison emphasized the importance of public media as “one of the most trusted institutions in American life,” providing essential services like educational opportunities, emergency alerts, and cultural connections to every community. She also expressed gratitude to her partners across the organization for their “resilience, leadership, and unwavering dedication to serving the American people.”
For decades, Republicans have campaigned on ending federal funding for public media, which had been allocated through the CPB to NPR and PBS. This stance has been a central issue in political discourse, with NPR and PBS facing scrutiny over allegations of political bias. Both organizations have been at the center of controversy, with their leaders, NPR CEO Katherine Maher and PBS CEO Paula Kerger, defending their media organizations while testifying before Congress in March. They faced tough questioning from Republicans over past allegations of bias and promoting far-left ideologies. The situation reflects the broader political debate over the role of public media in American society and the extent to which it should be supported by taxpayer funds.