Trump Axes Public Media Lifeline—NPR and PBS Funding Slashed in Executive Order

In a move that sent shockwaves through public broadcasting, former President Trump signed an executive order gutting federal funding for NPR and PBS. The decision—framed as a cost-cutting measure—effectively pulls the plug on decades of bipartisan-supported public media infrastructure.

Wall Street shrugs: ’At least it’s not another crypto ban.’

Trump ends Federal funding for NPR and PBS

🚨 BREAKING: @POTUS just signed an executive order ENDING the taxpayer subsidization of NPR and PBS — which receive millions from taxpayers to spread radical, woke propaganda disguised as “news.”

Here is the text of the order:

By the authority vested in me as President by the…

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 2, 2025

U.S. President Donald J. Trump directed the Corporation of Public Broadcasting (CPB) to cut funding for NPR and PBS. The order claimed that NPR and PBS received millions of taxpayer money from the CPB every year. It also stated that the order would be exercised to the maximum extent permitted by the law. 

According to the executive order, all indirect funding to the two broadcasters would be ceased by prohibiting local TV and radio stations from using taxpayer money to support them. The CPB will also revise this year’s General Provisions to prohibit direct and indirect financing of PBS and NPR entirely.

The order mandated all federal agencies to review all existing contracts and grants for compliance. It also instructed the FCC and related agencies to investigate whether the two broadcasters have been involved in unlawful discrimination. 

The president promised to ensure taxpayer money was not squandered on pet projects. He ensured Americans that their money would be used to benefit them. The order stated that the president set up Doge to evaluate how to streamline government operations. It stated that DOGE also aimed to eliminate unnecessary projects and cut down on bureaucratic inefficiency. 

White House revealed that Trump ended DEI discrimination in the government workforce, spending, and contracting. The president’s order also revealed the government was looking into politically-driven projects that wasted taxpayer dollars during the Biden era. It stated that the Trump administration was investigating grants and contracts that did not serve national interests. 

Trunk exposes bias in public media

Trump’s order claimed that PBS and NPR had promoted left-wing propaganda using tax money from hard-working Americans. The Republican stated that it was inappropriate to use taxpayer dollars to fuel partisanship and woke propaganda. He said the financing of news media was outdated and also unnecessary. 

The executive order claimed NPR had promoted stories that defended looting. It also stated that NPR declined to cover the laptop story involving Hunter Biden, terming it a waste of time even though it was relevant to the presidential election. The order also revealed that NPR said COVID-19 did not originate in a laboratory and failed to explore the theory. 

The order claimed research showed that PBS provided 85% negative coverage of Republicans compared to 54% positive news coverage for Democrats.

The order also stated that the PBS station ran a kids’ program featuring drag queen Lil Miss Hot Mess, which was inappropriate. The White House claimed that PBS produced the movie “Real Boy,” which celebrated the transition of a transgender teen.

The president’s order noted that PBS was involved in 72% coverage of the 2024 Republican National Convention. The order showed the 2024 Democratic National Convention received 88% positive coverage. It said no media firm had the right to taxpayer-subsidized operations and noted that it was inappropriate for Americans to be forced to subsidize biased media.

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