President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday to PBS and NPR, two White House media outlets accused of spreading “radical awakening propaganda” to cut taxpayer funds.
The order directs the company to “suspend federal funds for NPR and PBS” for public broadcasting and other federal agencies. They also require them to work to eradicate indirect sources of public funding for news organizations.
“[President Trump] It has just signed an executive order ending NPR and PBS taxpayer grants, and has awakened propaganda disguised as 'news' by receiving millions of people to spread radical extremists from taxpayers,” the White House wrote in a statement from X.
Trump nominates Waltz for a high-level post after ousting him as a national security adviser
The station has won around $5 billion in public funding through businesses for public broadcasting, preparing for the potential for hard cuts since Trump's reelection.
PBS CEO, President Paula Carger, last month said the Trump administration's efforts to withdraw funding to public media “disrupt the vital services PBS and local member stations provide to Americans.”
Headquarters of National Public Radio (NPR) in Washington. (AP Photo/Charles Dara Pack)
“There's nothing more American than PBS. Our work is possible because of the bipartisan support we've always received from Congress,” she said. “This public-private partnership will help millions of children prepare themselves for success in schools and in their lives, supporting a rich and exciting programme of the highest quality.”
The company for public broadcasting sued Trump this week, firing three members of the five board meeting, claiming the president is beyond his authority and that the move would take away the quorum needed to run the business.
Public broadcasting corporation sues Trump to prevent the termination of board members
President Donald Trump arrives Thursday to give his opening speech at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (AP Photo/Manuel Barthsenate)
Thursday's moves against PBS and NPR include Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty as his administration works to dismantle the US world media agency.
These efforts face pushbacks from federal courts. Federal courts may have exceeded the powers that the Trump administration has restricted funds allocated to outlets by Congress.
Spokesman NPR told Fox News Digital for over half a century that the organization has “worked with local, nonprofit, public media organizations to meet the important news and information needs of the American community.”
“NPR's editorial practices and decision-making are independent and free from external influences, including personal or commercial interests or political parties,” the spokesman said. “Millions of Americans rely on NPR member stations for rigorous, factual public services journalism that helps them inform their communities and the world. Federal funding is essential for the work of public media and all public media stations.”
Click here to get the Fox News app
Fox News Digital has contacted NPR to respond to Trump's executive order.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
