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2mo ago

CPB Wind-Down Proceeds as Judge Rejects NPR Effort to Block $58 Million Interconnection Award

Stations are cutting staff following Congress's $1.1 billion rescission of CPB funding.

Prairie Public headquarters in Fargo, N.D.
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Local NPR affiliates have been cutting staff and programming to make up for budget shortfalls since the Republican-led Congress clawed back funding for public media.
People participate in a rally to call on Congress to protect funding for US public broadcasters, Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and National Public Radio (NPR), outside the NPR headquarters in Washington, DC, on March 26, 2025. President Donald Trump said on March 25 that he would "love" to cut funding for the US public broadcasters, which reportedly will be reviewed by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency this week.

Overview

  • CPB is executing an orderly shutdown after Congress clawed back roughly $1.1 billion previously appropriated for public media.
  • CPB awarded up to $57.9 million over five years to the new nonprofit Public Media Infrastructure to provide interconnection and related services.
  • A federal judge declined NPR’s request for a temporary restraining order to stop CPB from directing PRSS funds to PMI.
  • Local impacts are accelerating, with North Dakota’s Prairie Public eliminating 12 positions, an 18% staff reduction, after a reported 25% revenue hit.
  • As CPB winds down, it distributed a final $7.1 million to stations, and larger organizations such as New York Public Radio and NPR are offering fee relief and free programming to help cash‑strapped outlets.