The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), the non-profit responsible for distributing federal funds to NPR, PBS, and over 1,500 local public media stations, has formally dissolved after nearly 60 years of operation. The decision follows massive funding cuts under the Trump administration, with the Republican-controlled Congress slashing $1.1bn from the CPB's budget, forcing it to shut down operations in August.
Patricia Harrison, CPB's president and CEO, stated that the board voted to dissolve the organisation to protect the integrity of the public media system, rather than leave it defunded and vulnerable to further attacks. The CPB was created by the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967 and had been tasked with allocating approximately $500m annually to support public broadcasting across the US.
President Trump and his allies have long criticised PBS and NPR, accusing them of spreading what Trump called 'radical, woke propaganda disguised as news'. In July, Trump warned that any Republican who opposed funding cuts would not receive his support. The cuts have particularly affected rural areas, where over half of the 544 public radio and TV stations receiving CPB funding are located, providing essential news in regions where traditional media has declined.
In response to the funding cuts, donors across the country have contributed $70m in what has been described as 'rage-giving'. However, analysts warn that 15% of local stations could close within three years if they rely solely on donations. Ruby Calvert, chair of the CPB board, expressed confidence that public media will survive and that a future Congress will recognise its critical role in education, culture, and democracy.
