Funder of major US broadcasters to shut down ‘within months'
Operations will be gradually wound down over the next few months, the CPB announced on Friday. Founded in 1967, it has been responsible for stewarding over 1,500 public television and radio stations, including major US broadcasters PBS and NPR.
'Despite the extraordinary efforts of millions of Americans who called, wrote, and petitioned Congress to preserve federal funding for CPB, we now face the difficult reality of closing our operations,' CPB President and CEO Patricia Harrison said in a statement.
The nonprofit remains committed to 'fulfilling its fiduciary responsibilities and supporting our partners through this transition with transparency and care,' she added. The majority of staff positions at the CPB will 'conclude' with the closure of the fiscal year on September 30, 2025. Only a small 'transition team' will remain through January 2026 to 'ensure a responsible and orderly closeout of operations.'
The CPB fell victim to Trump's policies in May, when the US president signed an executive order instructing it and other federal agencies 'to cease Federal funding for NPR and PBS.' Trump accused the broadcasters of 'bias' in their reporting, while the White House claimed the outlets received 'millions from taxpayers to spread radical, woke propaganda disguised as 'news'.'
In June, the US House backed the Trump administration's request to withdraw some $1.1 billion in already appointed federal funds from the corporation. Next year's Senate appropriations bill does not contain any funding for the CBP.
Both PBS and NPR have denied the accusations of bias. The outlets had received some 50% of their funding through the CPB and said the cuts could prompt layoffs and even their potential closure, heavily damaging the US domestic emergency warnings and alerts systems which largely rely on the networks.
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