President Donald Trump signed an executive order late Thursday to eliminate public subsidies to PBS and NPR, citing “anti-American propaganda” and “woke bias” in the broadcasters’ reporting.
The executive order instructs the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and federal agencies “to cease Federal funding for NPR and PBS.” It also orders them to uncover and cease indirect sources of public funding for the news organizations.
The White House, in a social media post announcing the signing, revealed the outlets “receive millions from taxpayers to spread radical, woke propaganda disguised as ‘news.’”
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AP reports the broadcasters receive roughly half a billion dollars in public money through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and have been preparing for the possibility of cuts since Trump’s election, as Republicans have long complained about their bias.
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Paula Kerger, PBS’ CEO and president, said in a statement last month that the Trump administration’s effort to rescind funding for public media would “disrupt the essential service PBS and local member stations provide to the American people.”
“There’s nothing more American than PBS, and our work is only possible because of the bipartisan support we have always received from Congress,” she said.
“This public-private partnership allows us to help prepare millions of children for success in school and in life and also supports enriching and inspiring programs of the highest quality.”
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting sued Trump earlier this week over his move to fire three members of its five-person board, contending that the president was exceeding his authority and that the move would deprive the board of a quorum needed to conduct business.
Just two weeks ago, the White House said it would be asking Congress to rescind funding for the CPB as part of a $9.1 billion package of cuts. That package, however, which budget director Russell Vought said would likely be the first of several, has not yet been sent to Capitol Hill.