In yet another late-night power move that reads more like political theater than policy, President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday aiming to strip federal funding from NPR and PBS. Citing “radical left bias,” the order instructs the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) to cut the purse strings. There’s just one problem: Trump probably doesn’t have the authority to do that.
See also: Did Trump Post a Fake Photo of Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s Tattoos?
Trump’s Latest Executive Order Is All Ego, No Authority
According to the text of the order, Trump wants CPB to “cease federal funding for NPR and PBS” to the fullest extent “allowed by law”—a crucial disclaimer that legal experts say effectively neuters the whole stunt. That’s because CPB isn’t a government agency. It’s a private nonprofit created by Congress in 1967 specifically to protect public broadcasting from political interference.
And CPB’s response? Swift and brutal.
“CPB is not a federal executive agency subject to the President’s authority,” the organization said in a Friday statement, calling the order “blatantly unlawful.”
It also reminded everyone that Congress has already fully funded CPB through 2027, thanks to bipartisan legislation. Translation: this isn’t your money to cut, Donald.
PBS, NPR, and the Courts Clap Back
PBS President and CEO Paula Kerger wasted no time calling out the midnight order for what it is:
“An attack on the First Amendment and the independence of public media.”
NPR, meanwhile, said it will “vigorously defend” its right to inform the public, especially in underserved communities where local stations rely heavily on federal funds to stay on air.
Let’s be clear: NPR receives less than 1% of its budget directly from federal sources. But for many of its 246 member stations—particularly in rural areas—those CPB grants are a lifeline. PBS stations, which also depend on CPB, receive about 15% of their funding from federal dollars. Cutting that off would hit local communities hardest.
See also: Trump Wanted to «Break Us»: Mark Carney Leads Liberals to Fourth Term in Canada
Bias Accusations and Elon Musk—Oh My
So why now? This move comes after months of public attacks from Trump and allies like Elon Musk, who’ve accused NPR and PBS of pushing “radical left propaganda.” They’ve cited everything from inclusive language guides to one PBS affiliate’s drag queen video (which, to be clear, never aired on television).
Last month, both organizations were grilled in a House oversight hearing over claims of liberal bias. Republican lawmakers dug up old social media posts from NPR’s new chief and fixated on local programming decisions from years ago. Never mind that the Federal Election Commission unanimously tossed out a complaint against NPR, affirming that its journalism is protected under press freedoms.
See also: Harvard Sues Trump Over Billions in Threatened Research Cuts: “We Won’t Be Silenced”
The Legal Math Doesn’t Math
This executive order could face a legal buzzsaw. The Public Broadcasting Act of 1967 forbids “any department, agency, officer, or employee of the United States” from controlling CPB. Congress—not the president—holds the power of the purse. And right now, that purse is closed for comment until 2027.
Adding to the chaos, CPB is already suing the Trump administration over his attempt to fire three of its five board members. If successful, that move would leave the board without a quorum—essentially freezing CPB’s ability to act, which ironically includes implementing any defunding order. It’s giving sabotage-by-bureaucracy.
See also: Donald Trump Threatens a Third Term With ‘Trump 2028’ Hats—Is It Possible?
Why This Actually Matters
Beyond the legal jargon and Trump’s usual culture war posturing, this order hits at the core of how America thinks about news, access, and democracy. Public media reaches 99% of U.S. households and plays a crucial role in education, emergency response, and local coverage—especially in news deserts abandoned by corporate media.
This isn’t just about Morning Edition or Tiny Desk Concerts. It’s about who gets to decide what counts as legitimate news in a democracy—and whether our airwaves belong to billionaires or the public.
See also: Trump Says Migrants Don’t Deserve Trials—And Yes, That’s as Alarming as It Sounds
Trump may have signed a piece of paper, but public broadcasting isn’t going down without a fight—or a lawsuit. The executive order may fire up his base, but legally, it’s on shaky ground. As one CPB official put it, the order “defies the will of the American people.” And frankly? So does trying to cancel Big Bird.
