Corporation for Public Broadcasting to shut down
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The Corporation for Public Broadcasting said on Friday it will begin winding down operations, following Congress' vote to cut nearly $1.1 billion in federal funding.
Why it matters: The decision is expected to severely impact local member stations of PBS and NPR that depend on federal support to operate.
Driving the news: CPB said it told its employees that the majority of positions will be eliminated Sept. 30 with a small transition team staying on through January 2026.
- "Despite the extraordinary efforts of millions of Americans who called, wrote, and petitioned Congress to preserve federal funding for CPB, we now face the difficult reality of closing our operations," CPB president and CEO Patricia Harrison said in a statement.
- "CPB remains committed to fulfilling its fiduciary responsibilities and supporting our partners through this transition with transparency and care," Harrison said.
What they're saying: Both NPR and PBS said they remain committed to maintaining service after the closure of CPB.
- A PBS spokesperson said in a statement to Axios, "As this remarkable institution winds down, PBS is committed to building on CPB's legacy and maintaining our service to the American people for years to come."
- Katherine Maher, president and CEO of NPR, said in a statement, "We will continue to respond to this crisis by stepping up to support locally owned, nonprofit public radio stations and local journalism across the country, working to maintain public media's promise of universal service, and upholding the highest standards for independent journalism and cultural programming in service of our nation."
- Both commended CPB's legacy of public service, with Maher calling the shutdown a "loss of a major institution and decades of knowledge and expertise."
Zoom in: While NPR and PBS nationally receive most of their funding from nongovernment sources, local member stations depend heavily on CPB.
- The share is significant for some specific stations — more than 90% for KCUW in Pendleton, Oregon; KUHB in St. Paul, Alaska; and WVLS in Monterey, Virginia, as Axios previously wrote.
- Local stations are often the only sources of local news in rural communities due to the decline of local newspapers.
Zoom out: The decision to cut funding from CPB comes amid a broader push by the Trump administration to roll back federal support for media.
- Trump is embroiled in many media and defamation lawsuits as his clashes with the press escalate. He has been sued by the Associated Press, NPR, PBS and the CPB.
What's next: CPB said it is working with its board to manage the shutdown and will provide updates to local stations and producers.
Editor's note: This story has been updated with comments from PBS and NPR.
