Federal Support for Public Broadcasting Reduction and Insights Regarding the Center for Public Radio
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), a key funder of PBS, NPR, and local radio and television stations, faces closure following the withdrawal of federal funding in 2025. This move, part of a $9 billion rescissions bill, will strip away $1.1 billion in funding that was previously allocated for CPB in the 2026 and 2027 fiscal years.
The immediate impact of this funding cut threatens the viability of about 1,500 local public radio and TV stations nationwide. This is particularly critical for rural and underserved communities, including Native American populations, where dozens of stations risk closure without federal support.
For instance, in Kodiak, Alaska, public radio stations often provide not just news but alerts about natural disasters like tsunamis, landslides, and volcanic eruptions. The cuts could slice 22% from their budget. Similarly, Mississippi Public Broadcasting has already decided to eliminate a streaming channel that airs children's programming due to the cuts.
Grant money from the CPB has funded lesser-known food, history, music, and other shows created by stations across the country. One of the most widely cited studies about the impact of "Sesame Street" compared households that got the show with those who didn't. It found that the children exposed to "Sesame Street" were 14% more likely to be enrolled in the correct grade level for their age at middle and high school.
"Finding Your Roots," PBS's most-watched program on linear TV and the most-streamed non-drama program, has also been impacted. Season 10 of "Finding Your Roots" reached nearly 18 million people across linear and digital platforms and also received its first Emmy nomination. The show, hosted by Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr., has revealed surprising connections among celebrities such as drag queen RuPaul and U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, as well as actors Meryl Streep and Eva Longoria.
The White House views the public media system as politically biased and an unnecessary expense, with conservatives particularly targeting NPR and PBS. However, the withdrawal of CPB funding risks severe reductions in public media services that are crucial sources of independent news, cultural programming, and educational content, especially in rural and marginalized areas where commercial media presence is limited or absent.
As NPR's president estimated, as many as 80 NPR stations may close in the next year. The cuts are expected to weigh most heavily on smaller public media outlets away from big cities, with some stations potentially closing. The closure of the CPB will mark nearly six decades of funding educational programming, cultural content, and emergency alerts.
[1] The Washington Post. (2025, July 24). Trump signs bill ending federal funding for public broadcasting. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/07/24/trump-signs-bill-ending-federal-funding-public-broadcasting/
[2] National Public Radio. (2025, July 24). What the end of federal funding for public broadcasting means for local stations. Retrieved from https://www.npr.org/2025/07/24/1034992434/what-the-end-of-federal-funding-for-public-broadcasting-means-for-local-stations
[3] The New York Times. (2025, July 25). Trump administration cuts funding for public broadcasting. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/25/us/politics/trump-public-broadcasting-funding.html
[4] The Guardian. (2025, July 25). Trump signs bill to end federal funding for public broadcasting. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jul/25/trump-signs-bill-to-end-federal-funding-for-public-broadcasting
- The closure of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) in 2025, following the withdrawal of federal funding, will impact 1,500 local radio and TV stations nationwide, including dozens in rural and underserved communities.
- In Kodiak, Alaska, public radio stations currently provide essential alerts about natural disasters, but could be facing a 22% budget cut due to the funding cuts.
- Mississippi Public Broadcasting has already chosen to eliminate a streaming channel airing children's programming as a result of the cuts in federal support.
- The show "Finding Your Roots," PBS's most popular program, has been impacted by the cuts, reaching nearly 18 million people across linear and digital platforms.
- The closure of the CPB will mark nearly six decades of funding for educational programming, cultural content, and emergency alerts, potentially leading to the closure of as many as 80 NPR stations in the next year.
