Federal Support for NPR and PBS Must Be Protected

NPR and PBS Serve the Public, Not Political Interests I am writing to urge you to oppose the recent executive order directing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) to end its funding of NPR and PBS. As reported by The Washington Post on May 2, 2025 (source), this is a targeted effort to weaken two of the most trusted, independent public media organizations in the country. Communities Rely on Public Media for Education and Information Millions of Americans—especially in rural and lower-income areas—depend on NPR and PBS for educational children’s programming, fact-based journalism, and cultural content that commercial media rarely provide. This order threatens to deprive those communities of essential access to programming that fosters literacy, civic knowledge, and shared cultural understanding. Congress Has the Power of the Purse, Not the Executive Branch Under the Constitution, Congress controls federal spending. If executive directives attempt to reshape how appropriated funds are used—especially to punish or silence public institutions—they undermine legislative authority and threaten the principle of checks and balances. This executive order appears to circumvent congressional intent by selectively targeting long-standing CPB grantees. Congress Must Act to Preserve the Integrity of Public Broadcasting I respectfully urge you to oppose this executive action and support legislation that protects NPR and PBS from politically motivated interference. Their work is indispensable to an informed public, and Congress must safeguard their ability to serve all Americans.