A top House Republican appropriator has publicly opposed the Trump administration’s plan to cut funding for public media, raising concerns about the potential impact on bipartisan cooperation. Rep. Mark Amodei of Nevada, who leads the subcommittee with jurisdiction over the Department of Homeland Security, has joined Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) in urging the administration to reconsider its proposal to slash $1.1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which funds PBS and NPR. This action is part of a larger recissions package the administration sent to Capitol Hill last week, aimed at revoking $9.4 billion in previously approved funding, predominantly for foreign aid programs.
Amode than Goldman, who co-chair the Bipartisan Public Broadcasting Caucus, emphasized in a statement that public media has consistently demonstrated its commitment to listening to the American public and adapting its programming accordingly. While they reaffirmed that public media must maintain objectivity and that legitimate concerns about content should be addressed, they argued that funding decisions should also be objective. The two lawmakers also noted that public media supports local jobs and plays a vital role in providing information to rural constituents, and that cutting its funding does not significantly reduce the deficit.
“Public broadcasting represents less than 0.01% of the federal budget, yet its impact reaches every congressional district,” the lawmakers stated. “Cutting this funding will not meaningfully reduce the deficit, but it will dismantle a trusted source of information for millions of Americans.” The opposition to the cuts highlights a growing divide within the GOP, as some Republicans question the wisdom of cutting funds for public broadcasting, which has long been a point of contention for the administration. President Donald Trump and many of his Republican allies have argued that NPR and PBS air programming biased against conservatives and should not receive government support. However, Amodei has joined a growing number of GOP lawmakers who are seeking a more cautious approach.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise introduced the recissions package as a formal piece of legislation last Friday, with a floor vote expected later this week. It is unclear whether Amodei will vote against the package as it is, but leaders can only afford to lose three Republican votes and still pass the measure. “We don’t share how he is planning to vote before a vote but he is looking at all of the information,” said Carrie Kwarcinski, a spokesperson for Amodei, in a statement. The situation underscores the delicate balance of power within the Republican Party as it navigates the challenge of maintaining cohesion while addressing fiscal responsibilities.