The Trump administration is moving forward with plans to cut all taxpayer funds for public broadcasting.
New York Post Las Vert, director of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, reported Monday that he had sent a memo to Congress. He also calls for codification of other budget cuts identified by government efficiency.
“From day one, the Trump administration has targeted waste, fraud and abuse in federal spending through enforcement actions, Doge reviews and other efforts by the department and institutions.”
The “retirement” plan would cut off $1.1 billion in funding for the corporation for public broadcasting, which funds national public radio and public broadcasting services. Additionally, it will win $8.3 billion from the US International Development Agency.
Vought’s memo reported that the CPB blames USAID for “a long history of anti-conservative bias” and “waste, fraud and abuse.”
I have CBP Discussed“U.S. public media is a highly efficient public-private partnership that provides strong returns on taxpayer investment. For every public dollar offered, the station collects nearly $7 from donors, highlighting their value to the communities they serve.”
Vought pointed out that NPR president and CEO Katherine Maher called Trump a “crazy racist” and “fascist.” He also highlighted two PBS programs that contain trans-identifying characters.
“From day one, the Trump administration has targeted waste, fraud and abuse in federal spending through enforcement measures, 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 send a withdrawal to the Hill for Swift’s approval,” Vought wrote.
“The OMB recommends that the administration respond with two proposals: cutting $9.3 billion,” he continued. “The first includes the withdrawal of $8.3 billion of wasted foreign aid spending (out of $22 billion) that will not expire in FY 2025 (FY). The second is the separate withdrawal of all federal funds from the Public Broadcasting (CPB).
Lawmakers have 45 days to adopt or reject the withdrawal plan. The White House is reportedly optimistic that it will pass.
Without retirement, Vought said taxpayer funds will continue to be spent on many wasted programs, including “advocating for a transformative change in gender norms,” $6 million to support Palestinian media and civil society, and $3 million to “Sesame Street” in Iraq.
Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Texas) proposed the law in March, preventing NPR and PBS from receiving taxpayer funds if passed.
Jackson introduced the bill, partisan radio and partisan broadcast services law after a fierce House Oversight Subcommittee hearing with Maher and PBS president and CEO Paula Kerger. Maher and Kager argued that their outlets were fair.
Subcommittee chairperson Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) argued that NPR and PBS were “Democrat taxpayer-funded PR arms” and thus “not worthy of Americans’ hard-earned money.”
“NPR and PBS hate President Trump, his supporters, and most of the Americans who sent us a mandate in 2024. They can hate us on our own dime,” Green declared.
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