Trump signs executive order directing federal funding cuts to PBS and NPR
WASHINGTON AP President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order aiming to slash general subsidies to PBS and NPR as he alleged bias in the broadcasters reporting The order instructs the Corporation for Masses Broadcasting and other federal agencies to cease Federal funding for NPR and PBS and further requires that they work to root out indirect sources of populace financing for the news organizations The White House in a social media posting announcing the signing commented the outlets receive millions from taxpayers to spread radical woke propaganda disguised as news ' It s the latest move by Trump and his administration to utilize federal powers to control or hamstring institutions whose actions or viewpoints he disagrees with Since taking office Trump has ousted leaders placed staff on administrative leave and cut off hundreds of millions of dollars in funding to artists libraries museums theaters and others through takeovers of the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities Trump has also pushed to withhold federal research and guidance funds from universities and punish law firms unless they agreed to eliminate diversity programs and other measures Trump has identified objectionable The broadcasters get roughly half a billion dollars in residents money through the Corporation for General Broadcasting and have been preparing for the possibility of stiff cuts since Trump s voting as Republicans have long complained about them Paula Kerger PBS CEO and president explained in a declaration last month that the Trump administration s effort to rescind funding for residents media would disrupt the essential organization PBS and local member stations provide to the American people There s nothing more American than PBS and our work is only realizable because of the bipartisan advocacy we have consistently received from Congress she disclosed 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 Citizens 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 Related Articles Email mistake reveals secret plans to end research on Head Start and other child safety net programs Letters Newsom must answer for CPUC makeup Letters County must find alternatives to office of tuition layoffs May Day protests sweep Bay Area with decidedly anti-Trump focus Trump nominates Mike Waltz for UN ambassador in major shake-up of national shield squad Just two weeks ago the White House reported it would be asking Congress to rescind funding for the CPB as part of a billion package of cuts That package however which budget director Russell Vought revealed would likely be the first of several has not yet been sent to Capitol Hill The move against PBS and NPR comes as his administration has been working to dismantle the U S Agency for Global Media including Voice of America and Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty which were designed to model independent news gathering globally in societies that restrict the press Those efforts have faced pushback from federal courts who have ruled in particular cases that the Trump administration may have overstepped its authority in holding back funds appropriated to the outlets by Congress AP Congressional Correspondent Lisa Mascaro contributed
