WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – Public broadcasters NPR and PBS are facing renewed scrutiny from Republican lawmakers, with President Donald Trump endorsing a push to strip more than a billion dollars in federal funding from the networks.
The effort, which has gained momentum in recent weeks, comes amid accusations from GOP leaders that the broadcasters promote a liberal agenda using taxpayer dollars.
“I would love to do that. I think it’s very unfair,” Trump said last month, signaling support for Republican calls to defund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which supports both NPR and PBS.
During a recent congressional hearing, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) took aim at PBS, citing its programming as evidence of what she called “child grooming.”
“PBS produced Frontline—they put out a documentary, Growing Up Trans,” Greene said. “This means that PBS is one of the founders of the trans child abuse industry, all while taking taxpayer money.”
Democrats on the same committee dismissed the attacks as politically motivated.
“It’s crazy,” said Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.). “We know the reporting done through NPR and PBS networks is fair. We need to focus on real challenges—like the cost of living and bringing down housing costs.”
The proposed cuts would represent a relatively small percentage of NPR and PBS’s overall budgets, but experts warn the impact on local journalism could be significant.
“From Arkansas to Idaho, communities rely on public television and public radio for local news—city council meetings, school board decisions,” said Peter Loge, director of the School of Media and Public Affairs at George Washington University. “It’s local news that’s going to take the hit.”
Loge warned that defunding public media could lead to fewer journalists holding local officials accountable.
“We have to have trained journalists on the ground asking elected officials hard questions,” he said.
The White House is expected to submit a formal funding cut proposal to Congress when lawmakers return from their Easter recess.
According to a March survey from Pew Research Center, about a quarter of U.S. adults (24%) say Congress should remove federal funding from NPR and PBS, while a larger share (43%) say the funding should remain.
Source: Fox 8 News Channel