PBS chief calls Donald Trump's order to cut public media funds 'unlawful'

Paula Kerger, president & CEO of US public broadcasting service (PBS) on Friday criticised President Donald Trump for his latest executive order which seeks to cut federal funding for PBS and National Public Radio (NPR).

Paula called it “blatantly unlawful” and a threat to their ability to serve the public with educational content.

Kerger said that PBS is reviewing all available options in response to the order, which she said jeopardizes the organization's five-decade mission to educate and inform Americans through public broadcasting. “We are currently exploring all options to allow PBS to continue to serve our member stations and all Americans,” she said in a statement.

The executive order, signed late Thursday, directs the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and other federal agencies to halt all funding to PBS and NPR, alleging “bias” in their coverage.

The White House further claimed in a social media post that the two outlets “receive millions from taxpayers to spread radical, woke propaganda disguised as ‘news.’”

However, CPB — a nonprofit organization that distributes federal funds to public media — responded by stating that it is not a federal executive agency and therefore is not subject to presidential directives. Earlier in the week, Trump announced the firing of three of CPB’s five board members and was immediately sued by CPB to stop it.

The vast majority of public funds for PBS and NPR is directed to local stations, particularly those that rely heavily on government support to operate. Media advocates warn that the proposed cuts could cripple these stations, which often serve rural and underserved communities.

While Republican efforts to cut public broadcasting funding are not new, this latest move is viewed by many in the industry as the most serious threat in PBS and NPR’s history. Observers see it as part of a broader campaign by Trump’s administration to dismantle such institutions which he perceives as ideologically opposed.

Since starting his second term in January, President Trump has made big funding cuts to areas like the arts, education, and culture. He has also tried to change well-known institutions such as the John F Kennedy Center and the National Endowment for the Humanities. In addition, he wants to give federal money to universities and law firms only if they remove diversity programs and other efforts he doesn’t support.

Two weeks ago, the White House said it plans to ask Congress to cancel funding for the CPB as part of a $9.1 billion budget cut. However, the official request hasn’t been sent to Capitol Hill yet.

The move against PBS and NPR comes alongside Trump’s ongoing effort to dismantle the US Agency for Global Media — which oversees Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. The agency was designed to model independent news gathering globally in societies that restrict the press. Federal courts have already intervened in several cases, finding that the administration may have overstepped its authority in holding back funds appropriated to the outlets by Congress.