Trump\’s budget cuts risk public broadcasting’s future
Trump Cuts Funding for NPR and PBS, Threatening Hundreds of Local Stations
Executive Order Slashes Federal Support
President Donald Trump dismantled $1.1 billion in public‑broadcasting grants by issuing an executive order that ended subsidies for National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). The order claimed these outlets present “biased, left‑wing propaganda” and are not a prudent use of taxpayers’ money.
Impact on Local Radio and Television
- Patricia Harrison, CPB president, warned that loss of federal funding will force many local radios and TVs to shut down.
- Prairie Public Broadcasting of North Dakota estimates a 26 % cut in its budget from combined state and CPB reductions.
- Vermont Public faces a $4 million shortfall.
- South Dakota Public Broadcasting lists possible program cuts, describing the service as a “binding connection point” for local communities.
Republican Rhetoric and Heritage Foundation Blueprint
The cut aligns with the Heritage Foundation’s “Project 2025”, which argues state and local governments can fund public media more cheaply, avoiding the “ills” of existing systems. Critics like Mike Gonzalez deflect the need for federal money.
Consequences for Rural Communities
- Journalism professor Dan Kennedy noted that remote areas depend on local stations for emergency alerts such as tornado warnings.
- In South Dakota, the loss of local programming threatens community bonds.
Broader Decline in Local Journalism
Since 2005, more than a third of the U.S. newspaper market has collapsed, with 3,300 titles shutting down. The count of journalists per 100,000 Americans has fallen from 40 in the early 2000s to just 8.2 now, underscoring a severe erosion of local news sources.
