President Trump signed an executive order to cut federal funding for NPR and PBS, accusing them of biased coverage and left-wing propaganda. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which funds these outlets, is structured to be independent of the federal government and is funded two years in advance. The White House criticized NPR and PBS for their coverage on topics like the Covid-19 pandemic and Hunter Biden, and wants Congress to retract over $1 billion allocated to CPB. NPR claims that their editorial practices are free from political influence, highlighting the potential negative impact on communities dependent on public radio for essential information. The CPB has also sued the Trump administration for allegedly attempting to illegally remove board members, amidst the ongoing tension regarding public broadcaster funding.

President Trump's executive order targets NPR and PBS, accusing them of biased reporting and instructs the CPB to end federal funding to these organizations as much as the law permits.

The CPB, a private nonprofit corporation created by Congress, receives a small portion of its budget from federal funding, with the rest coming from donors and sponsors, making it largely independent of presidential authority.

The Trump administration's document accompanying the executive order cites dissatisfaction with NPR and PBS's coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic and Hunter Biden, leading to this drastic funding cut proposal.

NPR issued a statement defending its independent editorial practices, warning of the adverse effects on communities that rely on public radio for news, culture, emergency alerts, and safety information if funding is cut.

The CPB has preemptively sued the Trump administration for allegedly attempting to unlawfully dismiss three board members without justification, highlighting the brewing legal battle over the control and funding of public media.

During congressional testimonies, NPR and PBS executives faced accusations from Republicans of liberal bias, further intensifying the scrutiny over their federal funding.

PBS's chief executive, Paula Kerger, noted that about 15% of public broadcasters' budgets come from federal sources, contrasting them with international public broadcasters which are mostly state-supported.