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PBS sues Trump White House over executive order to cut funding

BBG News

On Friday, PBS initiated a federal legal action aiming to prevent the enforcement of the May 1 executive order issued by the Trump Administration that aims to withdraw funds from public broadcasting. They argue this action infringes upon the protections granted by the First Amendment.

As a passionate cinephile, I’d like to share an interesting tidbit: The suit donned by the network broadcasting Sesame Street, Ken Burns documentaries, and PBS NewsHour, freely gracing millions of American households, has consistently emphasized that Congress has fortified Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) from political meddling. This safeguard is achieved by funneling funds through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), a distinct entity independent of any federal agency.

This executive order openly admits to stopping financial support to PBS, primarily due to disapproval of their program content and an aim to influence future speech content.

NPR, which also receives CPB funding, filed a suit on similar grounds on Tuesday.

Hollywood Inc.

Previously, PBS President Paula Kerger has faced criticism from politicians concerning federal funding. However, this current situation involves scrutiny by the FCC regarding the non-profit’s sponsorship arrangements.

The White House claims that Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) strictly opposes perspectives not aligned with liberal views. Trump’s decree aimed at stopping federal funds for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), a publicly-funded organization that has been financially supporting National Public Radio (NPR) and PBS for many years through Congress.

Trump labeled mainstream media as “propaganda with a left-leaning bias.” The White House press release, titled “Abolishing Taxpayer Funding for Partisan Media,” presented 19 arguments highlighting content from NPR and PBS that led to this decision.

I find it noteworthy that, speaking from my perspective as an admirer, the attire worn by PBS suggests that the data the White House has used to bolster their particular viewpoint are flawed and distorted. This misrepresents the diverse spectrum of opinions presented on PBS programs, which I believe offer a balanced representation of various perspectives.

In today’s world, where people have numerous options for obtaining information and entertainment through various platforms, the White House believes that government funding for broadcast media is no longer essential, as it was initially established during an era when the country primarily relied on only three commercial broadcast networks and a limited number of TV stations.

The lawsuit filed by PBS further states that, despite any differences in opinion between the administration and PBS regarding the function of public television, both our Constitution and federal laws prohibit the President from having the authority to decide the content of PBS’s programming, such as trying to cut its funding.

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2025-05-31 00:01

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