Public Broadcasting Faces the End as GOP Applauds CPB Shutdown
In a major shakeup to public media in the United States, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) announced on Friday that it will begin winding down operations following the elimination of its federal funding—a move championed by President Donald Trump and the GOP-led Congress.
The decision has sparked celebration among conservatives, who have long argued that public media outlets like NPR and PBS are politically biased and should not be funded by taxpayers.
“Promises Made, Promises Kept”
Republican lawmakers wasted no time taking a victory lap on social media.
“The days of the American people being forced to fund biased political outlets ARE OVER,” declared House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on X, calling it a fulfillment of conservative promises.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) echoed that sentiment, boasting about the $1.1 billion in taxpayer money being redirected as a result of the move.
“No more public dollars for partisan propaganda. Republicans are ending wasteful spending and putting America First,” he wrote.
“Bye Bye Bye” to Biased Media?
Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), who has been a vocal critic of the CPB, celebrated the closure with a reference to the NSYNC hit song “Bye Bye Bye,” saying the CPB had failed to hold NPR, PBS, and others accountable for editorial standards.
Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) added:
“NPR and PBS are free to continue their biased programming. But not with your tax dollars. That’s done.”
And Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) didn’t hold back either:
“That’s great news for every American who doesn’t want their tax dollars funding left-wing opinion journalism EVER again.”
A Blow to Public Media—and Rural America
But while conservative leaders cheered, many rural and local public radio stations expressed disappointment and concern about what the loss of federal funding means for their communities.
“The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which funds NPR and PBS, has announced it will be shutting down after the BBB cut its half-a-billion-dollar budget. Bye-bye!” wrote Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, celebrating the news.
National Review editor Philip Klein also credited Trump, praising his willingness to follow through on a long-standing Republican pledge to defund public media.
CPB Responds: “We Now Face the Difficult Reality of Closing”
In an official statement, the CPB confirmed it will “begin an orderly wind-down of its operations,” citing the recent recissions package passed by Congress and signed by Trump.
“For nearly 60 years, CPB has carried out its Congressional mission to build and sustain a trusted public media system,” the organization stated. It highlighted its contributions to educational content, emergency alerts, cultural programming, and journalism in communities across the country.
CPB President and CEO Patricia Harrison expressed sorrow over the decision, confirming that most staff positions will be terminated by the end of the fiscal year in September.
“Public media has been one of the most trusted institutions in American life… We are deeply grateful to our partners for their resilience, leadership, and unwavering dedication to serving the American people.”
A Longstanding Political Battle
For decades, Republican lawmakers have pushed to end federal funding for public media. That funding, funneled through the CPB, went directly to support NPR, PBS, and other local affiliates.
In recent years, both NPR and PBS have come under fire from conservatives and President Trump over allegations of liberal bias—claims that both organizations have firmly denied.
Earlier this year, NPR CEO Katherine Maher and PBS CEO Paula Kerger testified before Congress, defending their networks and pushing back against accusations of partisanship.
