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3w ago

Trump Administration Advances $9.3 Billion Funding Cut Targeting NPR, PBS, and USAID

The proposed rescission package, set for congressional review after April 28, threatens critical public broadcasting and foreign aid programs.

People rally to call on Congress to protect funding for Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and National Public Radio outside the NPR headquarters in Washington, DC, on March 26, 2025.
(L-R) President/CEO of NPR Katherine Maher and President/CEO of PBS Paula Kerger testify during a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing on Capitol Hill on March 26, 2025 in Washington, DC.
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Overview

  • The Trump administration has finalized a rescission package seeking to claw back $9.3 billion, including $1.1 billion from public broadcasting and $8.3 billion from foreign aid programs.
  • The White House cites alleged liberal bias at NPR and PBS and inefficiencies in USAID as justification for the cuts, which will undergo a 45-day congressional review starting April 28.
  • Public broadcasting leaders warn that the funding cuts would disproportionately harm rural and smaller stations, potentially creating news deserts and disrupting local services.
  • This marks a continuation of Trump’s broader strategy to align federal spending with his administration’s priorities, targeting programs perceived as ideologically misaligned.
  • The rescission proposal has sparked concerns about its potential impact on educational programming, emergency alerts, and global soft power initiatives supported by USAID.