House Passes Bill Defunding NPR, PBS, Cutting Foreign Aid

The House of Representatives narrowly approved legislation to eliminate federal funding for public media outlets such as NPR and PBS over the next two years, a move championed by President Donald Trump and supported by Republicans who criticize these outlets for perceived left-wing bias. The bill, which also includes significant cuts to foreign aid programs, passed with a 214-212 vote largely along party lines, overcoming Democratic opposition that views the defunding as harmful to independent journalism and educational programming. Senator Marsha Blackburn introduced the Free Americans from Ideological Reporting (FAIR) Act, aiming to codify Trump's executive order by permanently barring the Corporation for Public Broadcasting from directly or indirectly funding NPR and PBS, citing concerns over partisan bias and lack of accountability. Supporters argue the cuts are necessary to reduce federal spending and prevent taxpayer dollars from subsidizing what they describe as left-wing propaganda, while opponents warn this threatens public access to unbiased media. The legislation now moves to the Senate, with debates expected to continue over the future of federal support for public broadcasting amid broader fiscal and ideological disputes.