Congress Moves to End Federal Funding for Public Broadcasting

This year, a Congressional hearing spotlighted tensions between NPR's leadership and lawmakers over federal funding. NPR CEO Katherine Maher defended the organization's journalistic integrity, asserting its vital role in democracy, despite controversy over her past remarks criticizing President Trump. Her comments were overshadowed by revelations of her tweets calling Trump a "deranged racist" and a "fascist." While Maher’s testimony garnered support from anti-Trump media figures, it appeared to influence Congressional efforts to scrutinize public broadcasting funding. Representative Dale Strong (R-Alabama) introduced legislation aimed at defunding NPR, criticizing it as an extension of the Democratic Party and a tool for the far left. During a program with Tony Perkins, House Speaker Mike Johnson emphasized that recent legislative measures would save taxpayer dollars by reclaiming over $500 million previously allocated to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which has been accused of channeling funds to NPR, PBS, and affiliated stations. Historically, NPR and PBS have claimed minimal direct government funding, but critics argue that federal grants funneled through the ...