On Thursday, May 1, the White House announced that President Donald Trump has signed an executive order directing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) to halt all direct and indirect funding to prominent public media outlets, including National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS).


The order instructs the CPB which oversees federal funding distribution to public radio and television stations to “cease direct funding” to the two outlets and to reject future funding requests, citing concerns of political bias.


“The CPB Board shall cancel existing direct funding to the maximum extent allowed by law and shall decline to provide future funding,” the order states.


In a statement accompanying the order, the White House accused NPR and PBS of promoting “partisan and left-wing propaganda” at taxpayer expense echoing past criticisms by the Trump administration of media and academic institutions it views as ideologically biased.


“NPR and PBS have fueled partisanship and left-wing propaganda with taxpayer dollars, which is highly inappropriate and an improper use of taxpayers’ money, as President Trump has stated,” the statement read.


The administration’s stance is part of a broader campaign that has included attempts to defund or shut down other U.S. government-supported media organizations such as Voice of America, Radio Free Asia, and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks. A federal court blocked efforts to dismantle those outlets in late April, citing violations of statutory protections.


Critics including media advocates and human rights organizations warn that the order poses serious risks to freedom of the press and public access to independent information. They argue that the move could erode the vital role public media plays in delivering educational content, cultural programming, and trusted news, especially in rural and underserved communities.


Both NPR and PBS have previously warned that any withdrawal of federal funding would have a “devastating impact” on millions of Americans who rely on them for nonpartisan, locally relevant information, particularly during emergencies.


In a recent statement, PBS President and CEO Paula Kerger condemned the move:


“There’s nothing more American than PBS, and our work is only possible because of the bipartisan support we have always received from Congress,” she said. “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 CPB, a nonprofit entity established by Congress in 1967 to support more than 1,500 local public broadcasting stations, has filed a lawsuit against the White House. The legal action follows Trump’s recent attempt to remove three of the five members of its board raising further concerns about political interference in public broadcasting.