Washington – The public broadcasting company announced its shutdown on Friday.
This news surfaced a day after the Senate approved a budget bill, which notably omitted funding for nonprofits that support public media. This follows President Donald Trump’s earlier action that eliminated $1.1 billion in previously approved spending for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB).
Established in 1967, the CPB financially supports public radio, broadcasting services, and numerous local stations nationwide. Trump and his Republican allies have criticized the perceived left-leaning bias of NPR, a claim that public media organizations have dismissed.
Patricia Harrison remarked on Friday, “Despite the extraordinary efforts of millions of Americans who engaged with Congress to preserve federal funding for the CPB, the outcome was disappointing.”
She also stated, “The CPB remains dedicated to its responsibilities and will support our partners through this transition with transparency and care.” Harrison went on to emphasize that “public media holds a vital place in American life, offering educational resources, emergency alerts, civic discussions, and cultural ties across the country.”
According to the CPB, staff were informed on Friday that most positions would conclude by the end of the fiscal year on September 30, 2025, although a small transition team is expected to remain until January 2026.
On Thursday, the Senate Budget Committee approved the Labor, Health, Welfare, and Education Expenditure Bill for the 2026 fiscal year, which does not allocate funding for the CPB.
Sen. Patty Murray, a leading Democrat on the committee, expressed her dismay regarding the absence of CPB funding in the bill. “It’s disappointing, and communities nationwide will face repercussions as over 1,500 stations are losing essential funding,” she commented.
In light of the Trump administration’s actions, Congress recently endorsed a rescue package in July, slashing $9 billion in previously allotted funding for public broadcasting and foreign aid, inclusive of the CPB’s $1.1 billion.
Shortly thereafter, Trump signed the legislation into law.
