Trump's week in review: Religious Liberty Commission launched; NPR, PBS to be defunded
4. Trump orders defunding of NPR and PBS to 'the maximum extent allowed by law'
Trump published an executive order titled "Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Biased Media" Thursday that directed the Corporation of Public Broadcasting to "cease federal funding" to National Public Radio and Public Broadcasting Service. He described taxpayer funding to the news outlets as unnecessary: "Unlike in 1967, when the CPB was established, today the media landscape is filled with abundant, diverse, and innovative news options."
Noting how the CPB's governing statute states that it cannot "contribute to or otherwise support any political party," Trump accused both NPR and PBS of failing to present a "fair, accurate, or unbiased portrayal of current events to taxpaying citizens." He identified his move to defund the news outlets as consistent with his administration's policy to "ensure that Federal funding does not support biased and partisan news coverage."
In addition to directing the CPB to halt direct funding to NPR and PBS "to the maximum extent allowed by law," Trump called on the CPB board to "cease indirect funding to NPR and PBS, including by ensuring that licensees and permittees of public radio and television stations, as well as any other recipients of CPB funds, do not use Federal funds for NPR and PBS."
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The president ordered the CPB to revise the criteria for 2025 community service grants for both television and radio programs to "prohibit direct or indirect funding of NPR and PBS."
Trump also directed the Secretary of Health and Human Services to ensure that NPR and PBS are complying with federal law mandating that "no person shall be subjected to discrimination in employment … on the grounds of race, color, religion, national origin, or sex."
Ryan Foley is a reporter for The Christian Post. He can be reached at: [email protected]
