Last week, National Public Radio (NPR) filed a request with a federal judge to stop the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) from reallocating millions in satellite funds to new nonprofits created by a group of public media organizations.
NPR’s motion for a restraining order came shortly after CPB announced it would be granting a new nonprofit, Public Media Infrastructure (PMI), nearly $57.9 million over five years. The founding partners of PMI include New York Public Radio, American Public Media, and Public Radio Exchange (PRX).
A representative from CPB defended the decision, asserting that redirecting these funds was in the best interest of the public media system. They argued, “In challenging times with dwindling resources, NPR is compelling CPB to allocate scarce funds to defend against lawsuits that lack merit and that could ultimately benefit public media.”
On another note, the CPB stated the grant would facilitate “trusted interconnection services” and enhance infrastructure for distributing and monetizing digital content.
The CPB is responsible for distributing congressional funds to public radio and television stations, like NPR and PBS. Earlier this year, President Trump signed an executive order that directed CPB to cut all federal funding to NPR and PBS, citing “biased” content as the reason.
NPR and PBS challenged this order in court, but Trump was able to halt approximately $1.1 billion in CPB funding over the next two years following the passing of a retirement package. CPB has since announced it would initiate the operation “Ordinary Blow” and aim to conclude it by early 2026.
In its recent filing, NPR claimed that the CPB’s actions were illegal by diverting funds allocated by Congress. They cited the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967, which supposedly mandates that CPB distribute funds to a “national entity” chosen by participating public radio stations, which they assert is NPR.
NPR also pointed out that their existing grant agreement with CPB is set to expire soon. They contend that, if the funds are transferred to PMI, recovering them could be impossible given CPB’s anticipated shutdown. Currently, NPR manages the Public Radio Satellite System (PRSS), which has the potential to influence these operational decisions.
“As it stands, our grant agreement for PRSS funding ends in just a few days, and if CPB illegally reallocates these funds to PMI, we’ll need a temporary restraining order to prevent immediate harm,” the filing asserts. It emphasizes that once the funds are distributed, they might not be recoverable.
NPR CEO Katherine Maher informed staff that NPR has overseen PRSS for over 40 years and mentioned that CPB must continue to fund this system appropriately. She acknowledged that while technology infrastructure may not be the most thrilling topic, it’s crucial for ensuring editorial independence. Maher stated, “It’s our responsibility to contest any restrictions, whether they concern technical funding or newsroom operations.”
The court is scheduled to review NPR’s motion on Tuesday, marking the final day of full operation for CPB.
