Trump signs executive order cutting off government money to public broadcasters

US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order terminating federal funding for National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), advancing a long-standing Republican objective to cut financial support for public media accused by some conservatives of political bias.

The executive order, issued in the evening of May 1, directs the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) to end direct funding to NPR and PBS “to the maximum extent permitted by law”, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign press.

It also prohibits any future federal allocations to the two networks and includes provisions to prevent indirect funding through grants to community radio and television stations.

In a statement accompanying the order, Trump argued that government financing of media outlets is "not only outdated and unnecessary but corrosive to the appearance of journalistic independence."

PBS stands to suffer a greater financial impact from the decision. According to its President and CEO, Paula Kerger, who testified before the US House in March, approximately 16% of PBS’s total budget comes from federal funding. NPR, meanwhile, receives about 1% of its funding directly from government sources. Both organisations rely primarily on a combination of sponsorships, philanthropic donations, and listener or viewer contributions.

Republican efforts to defund NPR and PBS date back decades, with critics frequently accusing the outlets of liberal-leaning coverage. Trump himself has regularly criticised the media, including public broadcasters, for what he views as unfair reporting on his presidency.

In the order, Trump cited concerns about the networks’ “portrayal of current events” but did not specify particular incidents or stories he considered objectionable.

NPR and PBS are both known for their coverage of US politics and government affairs and have received numerous awards for journalistic excellence. As of Thursday night, neither network had issued a public response to the executive order.

By Tamilla Hasanova