Donald Trump orders to eliminate public funds for NPR and PBS for alleged bias

Although both media receive part of their public funds through the Corporation for public broadcasting (CPB)its financing depends largely on private donations.

“Neither of the two entities presents a fair, precise or impartial portrait of today to contributing citizens,” Trump said.

The decision is part of a broader policy of reduction of public spending and confrontation of the Republican President with the press. Trump has had a tense relationship with the main media of the country for years, Those who have described as “enemies of the people”except for exceptions such as the conservative chain Fox News.

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Criticism from the White House

The Trump administration ensures that NPR and PBS receive “dozens of millions of dollars each year” and that Its content reflects an ideological bias. As an example, he cites that for six months a PBS program used the term extreme right 162 times, compared to only six mentions of extreme left.

“NPR and PBS have fed the activism and propaganda of the left with money from the taxpayers, which is inappropriate and a misuse of public funds”Said the White House.

It is also argued that, in the current era of digital media and multiple platformshe state financing model has been “obsolete, unnecessary and corrosive for journalistic independence. ”

What impact will it have?

Although the decree was signed, the Congress has already approved the CPB budget until 2027which leaves doubts about the immediate application of the measure.

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According to figures from the chains themselves, More than 40 million people They listen to NPR weekly and 36 million Come PBS a month. Katherine Maher, director of NPR, reported in March that they were expected US $ 120 million of the CPB in 2025, just the 5% of the budget of the station.

The measure coincides with the closure of other public communication agencies, such as the Usagm, which supervised the voice of America and Radio and TV Martí, among others.

Organizations like Reporters without borders They have warned of an “alarming deterioration of press freedom” in the United States.