‘Trash that is passed as news’: Donald Trump orders funding halt for ‘biased’ PBS, NPR — and even took a swipe at Sesame Street. How this could hurt communities across the US

The statement accused both organizations of receiving “tens of millions of dollars in taxpayer funds each year to spread radical, woke propaganda disguised as ‘news.’”

Three CPB board members were removed from their role via email, with just two board members remaining. And that executive order has set the wheels in motion on litigation filed by NPR and three Colorado radio stations, who are now suing the president for violating First Amendment rights.

Public broadcasting on the chopping block

The Trump administration listed 24 examples of “biased” coverage, including the production of a film supporting reparations, failure to cover the Hunter Biden laptop story and the suggestion that crime fears are rooted in racism.

Even beloved puppets weren’t spared.

“PBS show Sesame Street partnered with CNN for a town hall aimed at presenting children with a one-sided narrative to ‘address racism’ amid the Black Lives Matter riots,” the statement said.

Patricia Harrison, president and CEO of CPB, responded by saying the organization is not under the president’s authority

“Congress directly authorized and funded CPB to be a private nonprofit corporation wholly independent of the federal government,” she said, adding that when it was created, it specifically prohibited any government agency or official from directing or controlling its operations.

For the 2025 fiscal year, the CPB received $535 million in federal funding, with about 70% going to support local radio and TV stations.

NPR says it receives about 1% of its funding directly from the federal government. Its 246 member institutions receive 8% to 10% of their funds from CPB. PBS and its stations receive about 15% of their revenues from CPB.

“The appropriation for public broadcasting, including NPR and PBS, represents less than 0.0001% of the federal budget,” Katherine Maher, president and CEO of NPR, said in a statement.

Maher said that NPR programming is essential to its 246 member organizations, which operate more than 1,300 stations. These stations generate on average 50% of all public radio listening, despite only accounting for roughly 25% of station programming.

The impact on smaller communities

For many rural or remote communities, free public broadcasting is often the only source of news.

In southwestern Colorado, for example, many communities are considered “news deserts,” meaning they rely heavily on public broadcasting. According to 9News, the local affiliate KSUT in Ignacio would lose about 19% of its budget, or $333,000, while Colorado Public Radio would lose about 7% or $1.5 million.

Shari Lamki, president and general manager of Pioneer PBS in Granite Falls, Washington, told The Journal the funding — which makes up about 29% of the station’s annual budget — is “irreplaceable.”

In addition to local and national news, local stations provide public safety information and emergency alerts.

“I have no doubt that the loss of this critical funding would impact this region and the safety of our citizens,” Lamki said.

Aside from the inevitable job losses, the disappearance of strong local stations could diminish civic pride, education and cultural connection — all key to neighborhood stability and desirability. Rural and remote communities would be hit hardest.