The White House has confirmed that President Donald Trump has signed an executive order aimed at reducing funding for PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) and NPR (National Public Radio). This marks the latest effort by the President to leverage federal funding as a means of pressure against organizations he perceives negatively.
According to a statement released by the White House late Thursday, the order instructs the public broadcasting company to “halt direct funding” for both organizations. The executive order characterizes these media outlets as biased and partisan.
The directive states, “The public broadcasting company must eliminate current direct funding to the maximum extent allowed by law, and must reject any future funding.”
Earlier, both organizations expressed concerns that Trump’s efforts to cut their funding could disrupt essential media services, having a “devastating impact” on Americans who rely on them for reliable local and national news, especially during emergencies.
The Trump administration has previously labeled several academic and media institutions as left-leaning, Marxist, and biased, threatening to reduce their financial support. Human rights advocates have raised alarms regarding the implications this could have on freedom of expression and academic liberty.