1. United States
2. Fla.
3. Letter

I’m concerned about the Trump administration’s proposed cuts to public broadcasting because they are a direct attack on the free press and access to vital information for all Americans. These draconian cuts of $1.1 billion to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting would cripple local NPR and PBS stations across the country, threatening their ability to provide critical news coverage, educational programming, and emergency alerts to communities. This will hit rural communities the hardest, where public media outlets are often the only source of local journalism and information. The federal funding for public broadcasting amounts to less than 1/100th of the federal budget, but contributes so much to our nation. Public broadcasting delivers an immense public good by sustaining a robust nationwide network of over 1,000 local radio stations and 336 television stations. These stations are a lifeline for millions, offering trustworthy reporting, thought-provoking discussions, and enriching cultural content that commercial media frequently neglects. It’s frightening that the Trump administration wants to silence the free press by defunding our public broadcasting, and it seems clear that this is yet another aspect of the strategy to consolidate power among the news outlets that are friendly to him, like Fox News and NewsMax. You can’t have a free nation without a free press. At a time when local journalism is in crisis and media consolidation threatens diverse voices, preserving robust public broadcasting is paramount to a healthy democracy. I urge you to forcefully reject any efforts to undermine NPR, PBS, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting through devastating funding cuts. Protecting this vital public resource must be a top priority to uphold the free flow of information and ensure all Americans have access to high-quality educational and journalistic programming, regardless of location or income level. Lastly, I urge you to please fight to bring Kilmar Abrego Garcia. He is a legal U.S. resident, a husband and a father. There is no evidence that he is a former gang member. Please choose the wellbeing of people in this country over your own career.