Public broadcasting leaders denounce action, call executive order illegal

By G. A. McNeeley 

M. Raftery contributed to this report

May 10, 2025 (Washington D.C.) — The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), a nonprofit organization that oversees the National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), is firing back at President Donald Trump’s executive order to cease funding for both of these media outlets, according to ABC News. 

NPR and PBS provide a broad range of programming, from independent news reporting to arts coverage and popular children’s programming such as Sesame Street. Locally, federal defunding of public broadcasting would also impact KPBS TV and radio, which reaches audiences countywide.

"Neither entity presents a fair, accurate or unbiased portrayal of current events to tax-paying citizens," the executive order claims , despite the fact that independent polls and fact-checkers have found NPR and PBS to be among the most trusted and reliable news outlets in the U.S. "The CPB Board shall cancel existing direct funding to the maximum extent allowed by law and shall decline to provide future funding," the President's order continues.

The executive order also halts indirect funding to PBS and NPR,  prohibiting local public radio and television stations from using taxpayer dollars to support the organizations and federal agencies to terminate any direct or indirect funding to NPR and PBS.