Republican lawmakers are pushing to cut federal funding to NPR and PBS amidst the Trump administration's reorganization of the federal bureaucracy. Rep. Claudia Tenney, R-N.Y., is spearheading a bill in the House of Representatives that aims to cease taxpayer dollars from supporting both media broadcasters and redirect those funds towards reducing the national debt.
Tenney expressed her perspective, stating, 'As a former newspaper owner and publisher, I understand the vital role of balanced, non-partisan media. Unfortunately, these taxpayer-funded outlets have chosen advocacy over accuracy, using public dollars to promote a political agenda rather than report the facts.'
Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, is leading the Senate counterpart of the legislation, emphasizing that Americans have numerous sources of news and commentary and should not rely on politically biased, taxpayer-funded media to dictate their information consumption.
Republicans have consistently criticized NPR and PBS for allegedly exhibiting a liberal bias while being financially supported by the government. Despite less than 1% of NPR's funding directly coming from the federal government, a significant portion of its budget is indirectly supported through grants and contributions from local member stations.
PBS also receives a mix of federal funds through various channels. The current push to end federal funding for both outlets coincides with the Trump administration's efforts to curtail government spending that does not align with its agenda.
Elon Musk, leading Trump's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative, has been vocal about defunding NPR, suggesting that it should sustain itself without government support. Musk previously labeled NPR as 'State-Affiliated' on his X platform, a designation typically reserved for media associated with authoritarian regimes.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., who heads the DOGE subcommittee under the House Oversight Committee, has also expressed intentions to have the heads of NPR and PBS testify before her panel, indicating a broader effort within Congress to address funding for these media organizations.
