Public media is facing funding cuts at the federal level that would significantly impact our programming, including news, music and culture, educational programs and the emergency alert system.
The White House is seeking the elimination of funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private, nonprofit corporation that supports 1,500 local public media stations across the country, like New England Public Media, as well as NPR and PBS.
This would have immediate and significant impacts on NEPM's ability to provide essential public service and effectively dismantle the public media ecosystem nationwide.
Take a stand for this trusted public service you rely on today.
Here’s the latest:
- On June 25, the Senate Appropriations Committee held a hearing on a rescissions package that would take back $1.1 billion in approved federal funding for public media.
- On June 12, the House passed H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025, which rescinds $1.1 billion in funds previously approved for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The bill will now move to the Senate for consideration, which has until July 18 to act.
- The White House proposed defunding public media in its annual budget request, which would impact FY28 and FY29 funding for public media. This comes on top of an executive order to block federal funding for PBS and NPR. These threats hit every level – past, present and future federal funding for public media.
- In May, NPR and Colorado public radio stations filed a suit against the White House over the president's executive order that purportedly bars the use of Congressionally appropriated funds for NPR and PBS.
- Brendan Carr, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission and author of Project 2025’s chapter on the FCC, announced an investigation into the practice of NPR and PBS stations airing sponsorships. On February 28, 2025, twenty stations including NPR, received letters from the FCC enforcement bureau.
How you can help:
- Call your members of Congress and urge them to support federal funding for public broadcasting.
- Stay informed. Bookmark this post and sign up for email alerts from NEPM so you never miss an update.
- Spread the word. Share this post or our emails to someone who values independent local news and commercial free music and entertainment.
- Support our work with a donation today. Member contributions are our largest and most stable source of funding. The surest way to safeguard public service journalism, cultural exploration and educational programming is through your personal investment in NEPM. If you're already a member, thank you for standing for public media when it matters most.
Federal funding: What's at stake?
New England Public Media is one of 1,500 locally focused, independently managed public media stations nationwide that form the backbone of America’s public information ecosystem. While our stations are primarily sustained through community support, the annual federal funding directed through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting provides the essential foundation that enables our entire system to deliver trusted news, educational resources, and emergency information when communities need it most.
Federal funding accounts for just .01% of one percent of the total federal budget. Stations leverage each $1 of federal funding to raise nearly $7 from other sources — a tremendous return on the taxpayer investment. This remarkable return on investment makes public media one of the most effective public-private partnerships in the country, serving critical public needs for nearly sixty years.
Losing federal funding would impair the system and communities across the country who may have no alternatives for the critical services their local stations provide. It would very likely result in immediate and significant impacts on our ability to provide essential services here in western Mass.
This post will be updated as we learn more.
Federal funding FAQ
Five things to know about public media and federal funding:
- Public media reaches 99% of the U.S. population and serves millions of Americans every day.
- The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) is an independent nonprofit that distributes federal dollars (an average of $1.60 per American annually) to local stations. That money is used to invest in programming and services according to each community’s needs.
- About 10% of NEPM's annual funding comes from the CPB.
- CPB funding allows public media stations to pool resources towards satellite interconnection, emergency alert systems, music licensing and development of educational programs, all of which would be too expensive for stations to do on their own.
- Cuts to federal funding would negatively impact the ability for rural stations, like ours, to serve the people who need it most. Learn more at Protect My Public Media.
NEPM is an NPR and PBS member station, part of a nationwide public media network that serves millions of Americans. This network reaches nearly 99% of the population with free and accessible programs, regardless of population density, income or geographic challenges.
Public media stations are partially funded by the CPB. Each station is locally managed and makes programming and service decisions to address unique community needs and interests. At NEPM, these programs and services include the national shows you enjoy, like Morning Edition and All Things Considered on radio; Frontline, Masterpiece and PBS Kids on TV; as well local favorites such as The Fabulous 413, The Rundown, Jazz à la Mode and As Schools Match Wits, along with popular podcasts like “The Secrets We Keep” and “Beacon Hill in 5.”
Public media’s service also includes things like lifesaving emergency alerts through its management and operation of the Public Radio Satellite System.
The need for and value of federal funding for public media has become a common topic, so we’ve put together these frequently asked questions about how public media funding works, and what impact the absence of that funding may have on public radio and television here and across the country. If you have other questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at hello@nepm.org.
What is the CPB’s role in public broadcasting?
The CPB is distinct from both NPR and PBS. It is not a broadcaster, but an independent, nonprofit organization created by Congress in 1967 with two primary functions: to serve as a firewall between partisan politics and public broadcasting, and to help fund programming, stations and technology.
Funding for CPB is established through the federal budget annual appropriations process two years in advance with the intention of insulating funding from political pressures. Its total appropriation is currently over $500 million. The CPB is responsible for allocating their funds from the federal budget in any way that fulfills their mission: to ensure universal access, over-the-air and online, to high-quality content and telecommunications services that are commercial free and free of charge.
NPR and PBS don’t receive direct support from the CPB; the funding goes directly to local stations so they can decide how best to program for their communities.
How much CPB funding does NEPM receive?
Approximately 10% of NEPM’s budgeted revenue comes from the CPB, about $850,000. That amount is calculated using a complex formula that takes into account our region’s population and how much funding we are able to raise locally from donations by individuals and support from small businesses and organizations.
Why does NEPM (or any station) need federal funding?
Even though member and local business support makes up the bulk of NEPM’s funding, federal funding — which costs an average of $1.60 per American per year — makes public media as you currently know it possible.
CPB’s investment directly supports local stations across the country and enables them to provide essential programs and services. If federal funding is eliminated, public media stations could be forced to cut some or all of the following:
- Signature educational content as set forth in the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967
- Important public safety communications during natural disasters
- Professional development and resources for teachers
- Music and cultural programming
- Local newsrooms and personnel providing information essential to the well-being of local communities
Some stations, particularly those in rural areas securing a larger percentage of their revenue from the CPB, could even be forced off the air. In many rural communities, public media stations are the only local sources of news.
Stable funding from the CPB and other sources have made it possible for NEPM to establish a strong system of local news reporting which listeners and viewers in western Mass. can rely upon over a long period of time. It also makes it possible to maintain radio and television transmitters to serve a mountainous region of our state with essential services that provide the public with local, national and world news as well as daily weather forecasts, alerts and warnings.
What would happen if NEPM lost CPB funding?
While NEPM would immediately seek to raise the $850,000 in lost CPB funds from donors and business sponsors, the loss of federal funding would very likely result in immediate and significant impacts on our ability to provide essential services, including production of local news and music programming, our ability to purchase national programming, maintain broadcast infrastructure and our membership in the New England News Collaborative, which serves the people of western Mass. along with millions more in the Northeast.
In addition, stations across the country rely on pooled resources from CPB including satellite interconnection, emergency alert systems, the ability to license music, and to develop educational programs. The whole network would be impacted in ways that would also impact NEPM.
What is NEPM doing to prepare for this possibility?
NEPM is preparing for this possibility on many fronts. We are in conversations with other public media organizations and a national organization called Protect My Public Media to coordinate efforts and advocacy. We’ve met with the Congressional delegation from western Mass., and are developing a contingency plan for the potential loss of funding. And we’re keeping our members and audience informed about what’s going on and how you can help.
Why is public broadcasting needed when we can get news and content from so many sources?
Local public media stations provide critical information — always free of charge — to help citizens make informed decisions.
For example, recent investigative series about local police’s use of civil asset forfeiture, the challenges of getting methadone treatment, and workforce staffing shortages, have helped listeners in western Mass. understand and navigate complex issues. Whether it’s local elections, schools and education, health care or government policy, the western Mass. residents turn to NEPM for timely and trustworthy updates and information.
With the number of local journalists declining nationwide and increased division and isolation in our country, independent and nonprofit public media organizations like NEPM continue to provide a high level of service to communities. Public media abides by rigorous ethical standards to ensure our content cannot be influenced by commercial interests. In a time where anyone can post their opinion to social media, journalism grounded in rigorous fact-checking is essential to inform decisions that affect our health and safety, our finances, our democracy and our future.
Finally, NEPM makes learning accessible to all through PBS Kids’ trusted, non-commercial, educational shows and activities. Children, teachers and families in western Mass. are invited to engage interactively with safe media content in living rooms, classrooms and on the go. Our NEPM Media Lab engages local high school students, working directly with schools and local organizations to provide workforce training, media literacy programs and hands-on journalism experience in our newsroom.
How can I take action to advocate for continued support of public media?
Make your voice heard by visiting Protect My Public Media for resources to help you contact members of Congress and sign a petition. You can also tell your friends why public media is important to you.
- Rep. Richard Neal (contact)
- Rep. Jim McGovern (contact)
- Sen. Elizabeth Warren (contact)
- Sen. Ed Markey (contact)
Local community support is our largest and most stable source of funding, and no matter how this shakes out, continuing our public service will require your ongoing support. If you’re already a contributing member, thank you! If you’re not, or if you can give more generously, now is an excellent time to join NEPM or increase your support.
Timeline of Events
June 25: The Senate Appropriations Committee held a hearing on a rescissions package that would take back $1.1 billion in approved federal funding for public media.
June 12: The House of Representatives narrowly passed H.R. 4, which would claw back $1.1 billion in already-approved funding for public media — including NEPM. The measure passed largely along party lines, 214 to 212. It now moves to the Senate, where it needs a simple majority (50 votes) to pass.
June 10: The House Rules Committee reported out a rule on a party-line vote that provides for the consideration of H.R. 4, the package that would rescind the previously appropriated funding for the CPB in FY 2026 and FY 2027. No amendments to the bill will be allowed.
June 3: Trump took yet another step to place NPR and PBS at the center of his broader clash with major cultural institutions, formally asking Congress to take back the $1.1 billion it has set aside for all public broadcasters for the next two years.
A simple majority of lawmakers in each chamber must approve what's technically known as a "rescission request" within 45 days for it to become law.
May 30: PBS and a public television station in rural Minnesota filed suit against Trump over his executive order demanding that the Corporation for Public Broadcasting kill all funding for the network.
The suit alleges Trump's executive order is unlawful, exceeding his authority as president and violating Constitutional protections of free speech because he has made clear he doesn't like PBS's news coverage and programming.
"This action challenges an unprecedented presidential directive attacking PBS and its member stations… in a manner that will upend public television," the lawsuit states. It continues: "The EO makes no attempt to hide the fact that it is cutting off the flow of funds to PBS because of the content of PBS programming and out of a desire to alter the content of speech. That is blatant viewpoint discrimination and an infringement of PBS and PBS Member Stations' private editorial discretion."
May 27: NPR and three Colorado public radio stations filed suit in federal court against Trump and several members of his administration over an executive order to cut federal funding to NPR and PBS.
The lawsuit calls Trump's executive order directing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to freeze all funding to NPR and PBS "textbook retaliation" and an existential threat to the public radio system "that millions of Americans across the country rely on for vital news and information."
During an interview on NPR’s All Things Considered, NPR CEO Katherine Maher told host Mary Louise Kelley, "It is evident from the president's executive order, as well as statements released by the White House and prior statements by the president that we are being punished for our editorial choices."
May 1: Just before midnight, the White House issued an executive order calling on the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to stop funding NPR and PBS. The CPB is a private nonprofit (not a government agency) that was created by Congress in 1967. It partially funds PBS, NPR and member stations like NEPM. For nearly 60 years, Congress has provided funding for public broadcasting — with bipartisan support. The executive order accuses NPR and PBS of biased coverage and says the CPB must cancel existing and future support.
As reported by NPR, it is not clear that the president has the authority to make such orders to CPB under the law. The order is likely to be challenged in court.
"We will vigorously defend our right to provide essential news, information and life-saving services to the American public," NPR said in a statement. "We will challenge this executive order using all means available."
In a statement, CPB wrote that it "is not a federal executive agency subject to the president's authority. Congress directly authorized and funded CPB to be a private nonprofit corporation wholly independent of the federal government."
The CPB noted that the statute Congress passed to create it "expressly forbade 'any department, agency, officer, or employee of the United States to exercise any direction, supervision, or control over educational television or radio broadcasting, or over [CPB] or any of its grantees or contractors." This comes on top of a White House proposal to defund public media in its annual budget request, which would impact FY28 and FY29 funding for public media.
April 15: The White House called on Congress to rescind $1.1 billion in funding from the public broadcasters:
- It’s called a “rescission” package, a rarely used method to cut federal spending.
- The specific programs targeted for rescissions have not yet been formally announced, but it’s likely the CPB — funded two years in advance — and other key public media programs that support stations will be included.
- The White House could send this plan to Congress as early as Monday, April 28, when lawmakers return from recess.
- This would start a 45-day countdown for Congress to review and vote on the proposal.
- During this time, the administration can temporarily withhold any funding included in the plan..
- The funds in question are for FY26 and FY27, unrelated to any future funding beyond what was already appropriated in the recent continuing resolution.
- If Congress doesn’t approve the plan – or can’t get enough votes to pass it – the funding must be released.
- The Senate can pass it with a simple majority of just 50 votes, and Congress has the option to change what’s included.
- If federal funding for public broadcasting were to be rescinded, the whole network would be impacted in ways that would also impact NEPM.
March 26: The CEOs of NPR and PBS will testify before the House Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency in Washington, D.C. The hearing, titled “Anti-American Airwaves: Holding the heads of NPR and PBS Accountable,” aims to call into question the value of public media and the federal support that sustains it.
March 14: Congress passed a Continuing Resolution to fund the government through September 30, 2025. The funding bill does include level funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting through FY27.
Feb. 28: Brendan Carr, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission and author of Project 2025’s chapter on the FCC, announced an investigation into the practice of NPR and PBS stations airing sponsorships. Twenty stations, as well as NPR, received letters from the FCC enforcement bureau (NEPM was not among them).
Updated June 27, 2025 to reflect the Senate hearing on the rescission package.
Updated June 13, 2025 to reflect that the rescission bill has passed in the House.
Updated June 4, 2025 to reflect the White House's rescission request to take back previously approved funding for public media.
Updated May 2, 2025 to reflect the executive order signed by President Trump to stop the CPB from funding NPR and PBS.
Updated April 18, 2025 to reflect the White House calling on Congress to rescind $1.1 billion in funding from the public broadcasters through a rescission package.
Updated March 27, 2025 to reflect information about the heads of NPR and PBS testifying before the House Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency.
March 20, 2025 to reflect passage of a Continuing Resolution to fund the federal government through Sept. 30, 2025.