PBS and NPR are facing a challenging future following a Senate vote to cut funding for public broadcasting, prompting leaders from both organizations to issue serious warnings about the potential changes.
NPR CEO Katherine Maher held an urgent meeting in the Washington, D.C. office on Thursday, shortly after the Senate, controlled by the GOP, voted to reduce foreign aid, which includes cuts to NPR and PBS funding, by nearly $9 billion.
The fate of these cuts will hinge on Friday’s House vote before reaching President Trump’s desk.
The proposed reduction, which amounts to about $1.1 billion, would significantly impact public broadcasting operations. This includes PBS, a nonprofit that supports NPR, which is known for programs like “Morning Edition” and “Everything Considered,” as well as long-running shows like “Sesame Street” and Ken Burns documentaries.
Maher described the 30-minute meeting with staff as critical, especially with crunch time approaching ahead of the House vote.
Roughly 70% of the proposed cuts would affect about 330 local PBS stations and 246 NPR affiliates.
PBS reports that, on average, public funding contributes about 15% of a station’s budget. However, this varies significantly; larger stations tend to generate more revenue through fundraising efforts, while smaller stations often rely more heavily on government support.
NPR receives approximately 1% of its funding from federal sources, noting about 3% indirectly through its stations. The bulk of NPR’s finances come from member fees, corporate sponsorships, and private donations.
Maher warned that the elimination of federal funds would lead to “a huge amount of change.” NPR Media Reporter David Folkenflik shared her comments from the meeting on social media.
PBS CEO Paula Kerger echoed Maher’s concerns in a CNN interview, stating that tough decisions would be necessary in the coming weeks and months.
Both leaders refrained from commenting on whether staff layoffs or program reductions would occur due to these funding cuts.
Fortunately, “Sesame Street” appears to be secure after signing a contract with Netflix in May, ensuring that the show’s upcoming 56th season and 90 hours of episodes will be available for streaming.
Details regarding the deal with Netflix remain undisclosed. It follows a decline in Netflix’s performance after Warner Bros. Discovery renewed its agreement, which allegedly paid Sesame Workshop between $30 million and $35 million each year.
Critics, including Trump, have accused NPR and PBS of having a political bias leaning toward Democrats.
This week, Maher responded to those bias allegations, insisting that the organizations aim to “serve all Americans.”
NPR’s chief government affairs executive, Marta McLellan Ross, mentioned during staff discussions about the intent of the legislation.
Maher emphasized that public media aims to unite and “continues this to the end.”
In May, both PBS and NPR took legal action against President Trump and his administration to prevent an executive order that would strip federal funding.
