The Trump administration has developed a memo for Congress indicating its intention to terminate nearly all federal funding for public media, which includes NPR and PBS. According to a White House official who spoke on the condition of anonymity, the memo accuses both networks of disseminating “radical, woke propaganda, disguised as ‘news.'”
The administration is set to present this memo to Congress when it reconvenes on April 28. This will initiate a 45-day period in which Congress can approve the funding rescission or allow the money to be restored.
This development follows a House Oversight and Government Reform subcommittee hearing in late March, which involved testimonies from PBS CEO Paula Kerger and NPR CEO Katherine Maher. The hearing, held by Republican lawmakers, scrutinized what they termed biased and woke programming. Both CEOs emphasized their commitment to providing free, nonpartisan news and programming across the United States.
NPR has not received formal notification from the White House regarding the rescission, which includes $1.1 billion for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. Maher noted that this amount encompasses public media in general, with public radio slated to receive $250 million.
Katherine Maher discussed the memo with Mary Louise Kelly, host of “All Things Considered.” NPR’s policy is to cover itself like any other organization, with no input from newsroom or corporate executives, including Maher, on the questions for this interview.
NPR has requested comments from the White House regarding the funding pullback but has yet to receive a response.
In an edited interview for clarity and length, Mary Louise Kelly asked Maher about the impact of losing government funding on NPR. Maher explained that the biggest impact would be on NPR’s network, which consists of 246 stations nationwide. These member stations receive significant funding, about $100 million annually, and rural stations could face service reductions or closures if funding is lost.
Kelly pointed out that NPR receives around 1% of its annual budget from the federal government, supporting essential operations such as overseas conflict coverage. Maher highlighted that member stations rely more heavily on federal funding compared to NPR itself.
When asked about the potential elimination of government funding, Maher expressed concerns regarding the network’s ability to thrive. This funding supports a network that provides coverage across 99.7% of the American population. A lack of federal funding could jeopardize local newsrooms, especially in areas considered news deserts.
Maher justified the need for tax dollars supporting public broadcasting, emphasizing that public media ensures access to news in areas lacking alternative sources. She likened public media’s importance to infrastructure, which is available to serve when needed.
Regarding allegations of bias from Marjorie Taylor Greene, Maher stated that public media does not harbor hostility and aims to report news from various perspectives.
In response to whether public funding holds NPR back, Maher argued that it helps maintain a mission of inclusivity, targeting diverse audiences and fostering national conversations.
This story was adapted for the web by Mallory Yu and edited by Managing Editors Gerry Holmes and Vickie Walton-James. In accordance with NPR’s reporting protocol, no NPR corporate official or news executive reviewed this story prior to publication.
