Trump Signs Order Ending Funding for NPR, PBS

President Trump has signed an executive order to eliminate all federal funding for PBS and NPR, accusing the public broadcasters of promoting 'woke' or left-leaning propaganda and asserting that government support for news media is outdated and undermines journalistic independence. The order directs the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) to stop both direct and indirect funding to NPR and PBS, and calls for the cancellation of any existing and future financial support to the outlets. Critics, including leaders of NPR and PBS, argue the move is unlawful and warn it would harm essential local programming, especially in rural communities that rely heavily on federal funds. The administration's authority to unilaterally cut off CPB funding is contested, as Congress directly allocates and protects these funds in multi-year cycles to shield them from political pressure. Supporters of the order, primarily on the political right, contend that taxpayer money should not subsidize media they view as partisan, while public broadcasting leaders vow to challenge the decision through legal and legislative means. The action is seen as part of a broader effort by Trump to target institutions perceived as unfriendly to his administration.