Corp. for Public Broadcasting shuts down after federal funding cuts

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On Friday, the Public Broadcasting Corporation announced that they would be closing their operations, approximately a week following President Trump’s signing of the bill that ended their financial support.

The organization responsible for financing PBS TV networks and NPR radio broadcasters announced plans to gradually shut down their activities, starting with a significant reduction in staff by September 30th, marking the end of their fiscal year.

The nonprofit has announced that a modest group will continue until January 2026 to handle the proper and organized wrapping up of activities. This team’s main tasks will involve adhering to rules, making final distributions, resolving lingering financial duties, and guaranteeing consistency for music rights and royalties crucial to the public media network.

After resuming his duties in the office, Trump has emphasized cutting federal funds for public broadcasting as part of a broader strategy targeting media outlets he disfavors. He labeled PBS and NPR as biased “propaganda” funded by the government. In response, Congress followed suit with this stance.

In the middle of July, a decision was made to revoke funds amounting to $1.1 billion, which were originally set aside for public broadcasting over a period of two years.

In a standalone move, legislators presented a Senate budget proposal for the year 2026 that does not include financing for the Public Broadcasting Corporation for the first time in over half a century. For years, conservative groups have advocated for removing funding from public broadcasting due to their belief of a perceived liberal bias within these media outlets.

The group found themselves short on a reliable income for operations, with minimal prospects of additional funds becoming available soon.

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Due to the U.S. Senate’s decision to reclaim funds that were initially allocated for their operations, outlets like NPR and PBS, including several based in Southern California, will face difficult choices.

In spite of countless Americans tirelessly advocating by calling, writing letters, and signing petitions to keep federal funds for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting intact, we are confronted with the tough truth that we may have to shut down our operations,” stated Patricia Harrison, CEO of Corp. for Public Broadcasting.

This organization, with roots reaching back over half a century, has played a significant role in cultivating renowned programs like “Sesame Street,” “PBS NewsHour,” “NOVA,” various Ken Burns documentaries, and “Antiques Roadshow.” By collaborating with local stations and producers, this non-profit organization has dedicated itself to promoting educational and cultural content, journalistic endeavors, and emergency communication services.

This action might severely impact smaller public broadcasting stations, even those located in rural areas who find it challenging to fundraise locally due to limited resources. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting assists over 1,500 local TV and radio stations across the country.

PBS SoCal, the organization that manages TV stations KOCE and KCET located in Orange and Los Angeles counties, faced a potential loss of over $4 million in federal financing, as reported by Andy Russell, their president and CEO, to The Times earlier.

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Lawmakers approved a measure put forth by the Trump government, leading to the withdrawal of funding earmarked for public broadcasting. Media executives warn that this move could lead to severe repercussions.

NPR has two large affiliates serving Los Angeles: KCRW-FM (89.9) and LAist/KPCC-FM (89.3).

Los Angeles Independent Media (LAist), located in Pasadena, is set to face a reduction of around 4% in its yearly budget, equating to approximately $1.7 million. As reported by The Times last month, the station’s CEO, Alejandra Santamaria, mentioned that this funding supported the employment of 13 journalists within their newsroom.

KCRW in Santa Monica had been expecting $1.3 million from the Corp. for Public Broadcasting.

The stations have asked listeners to donate in order to compensate for the shortfall.

In a released statement, Harrison expressed gratitude towards public media, emphasizing its crucial role as a trusted source of education, emergency notifications, civil discussions, and cultural bonding across all regions in America. He acknowledged the resilience, leadership, and unwavering commitment of their partners within the system, who consistently prioritize serving the American people.

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2025-08-01 22:31