PBS CEO Paula Kerger has warned about the negative consequences it will have if Congress withdraws federal funds from public broadcasters as the White House moves forward with plans to cut taxpayer money from both PBS and NPR.
“The ongoing efforts by Congress to withdraw public media funding will disrupt the critical services PBS and local member stations provide to Americans,” Kerger wrote in a statement Tuesday sharing with Fox News Digital.
“There’s nothing more than PBS. Our work is possible due to the bipartisan support we’ve always received from Congress. This public-private partnership allows millions of children to prepare themselves for success in school and life, and also supports rich and inspiring programs of the highest quality,” she continued. “Retracting these funds will destroy the important role they play at PBS member stations and especially at small, rural stations that rely on federal funds for most of their budgets.
The White House urges Congress to cut federal funds for NPR, PBS
PBS CEO Paula Kerger warned local stations around the country that they would “destroy” federal funding. (Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)
“We are proud to highlight the real issues, individuals and places ignored by the commercial media. We look forward to showing our values to Congress over the past 50 years, in order to maintain our organization and services, and to maintain something strong and important,” Carger said.
Karger’s statement corresponds to the $8.3 billion allocated to USAID by President Donald Trump’s Budget Director, Russ Vert, drafted a memo asking GOP lawmakers to cut the $1.1 billion allocated to the company for Public Broadcasting (CPB).
“From day one, the Trump administration has targeted waste, fraud and abuse in federal spending through enforcement actions, Doge reviews, and other efforts by departments and agencies. Congress has expressed a strong interest in supporting those efforts and has requested that the administration be sent to the Hill for Swift’s approval.
The note continued. “The OMB recommends that the administration respond with two proposals to cut $9.3 billion, including the withdrawal of unnecessary foreign aid spending (of $22 billion) that will not expire in 2025 (FY).
NPR, PBS Honchos faces biased coverage by GOP lawmakers and a tense grill over taxpayer funding
Trump said He wants to see NPR and PBS funding cancelled.
“The kind of money that’s wasted is a very biased view because they spend more money than any other network ever thought up. You know it better than anyone else, and I’m honored to see it end.”
Russell Vert, director of the Office of Business and Budget, has drafted a memo that officially asks Congress to cut funding for NPR and PBS. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP)
Last month, PBS Kerger and NPR CEO Katherine Maher testified before the Doge subcommittee, burning about alleged biased content as Republicans called for federal funds to be revoked.
PBS website The state receives funding from the CPB, receiving about $500 million a year approved by Congress, saying, “CPB is primarily assigned allocations to public television and radio stations, with some assigned to NPR and PB to support national programming.”
” News Hour Approximately 35% of the annual funds/budgets from CPB and PBS are received via national programming funds. This is a combination of CPB expenditures and annual programming fees paid to PBS by stations reassigned to programs like ours. The remaining 65% is generated from individual donations, foundation grants and corporate sponsorships,” PBS said.
PBS also receives money through organizations supporting PBS Foundation, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, and 509(a)(3) seeking “charitable gifts and grants” to fund the outlet.
NPR Chief admits that he rejected rejecting Hunter Biden laptop stories
National Public Radio CEO Katherine Maher and Public Broadcasting Services CEO Paula Kherger are sworn in before a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing at the U.S. Capitol on March 26, 2025. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
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According to NPR, 38% of revenue comes from corporate sponsorships, 31% from “core and other programming fees”, 13% from “cash and financial assets donations”, 7% from “other revenue”, 5% from PRSS contracts, satellite interconnections and distribution, plus 5% from donations, NPR Foundation board design support and 1% assist in investment.
NPR’s own site acknowledges that “station programming fees include a significant portion of NPR’s largest revenue stream. Loss of federal funds undermines the ability to pay NPR for station programming, thereby weakening the institution.”
The NPR finance page also argues that elimination of federal funds will reduce journalism.
Therefore, while NPR publicly downplays government funding, small stations funded by the government provide cash to NPR. All this pushes back the notion that NPR is “federal funding is essential” while at the same time pushing back the notion that it is funded by the government.
