Trump order could ax funding for Philly's NPR and PBS affiliate WHYY
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The Philadelphia region's NPR and PBS affiliate WHYY is facing the potential loss of federal funding after President Trump's executive order axing financial support for public media across the nation.
Why it matters: Thursday's mandate raises questions about the future of the region's largest public media company and could hamper growth at the longtime broadcaster.
The big picture: Trump's order that calls the two biggest public broadcasters in the U.S. "biased" and directs the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) to "cease direct funding" for them comes amid a broader push to target traditional media companies that Republicans see as biased against them.
- The CPB allocates about $535 million in federal money annually to NPR and PBS.
Zoom in: Trump's order claims "neither entity presents a fair, accurate, or unbiased portrayal of current events" to taxpayers.
- "The CPB Board shall cancel existing direct funding to the maximum extent allowed by law and shall decline to provide future funding," the order states.
Between the lines: The situation is already tense with the CPB, which filed a lawsuit against Trump and several administration officials last week for attempting to fire three members of its board.
Zoom in: Philadelphia is among PBS and NPR's largest markets, serving nearly 3 million households with a coverage area spanning Philly and its Pennsylvania 'burbs, Delaware and most of New Jersey.
By the numbers: Federal funding accounted for a sizable chunk of WHYY's $54 million revenues in 2024 — 7% or nearly $3.8 million.
- Member contributions are the outlet's largest share of revenue (44%).
What they're saying: Bill Marrazzo, WHYY's president and CEO, tells Axios that WHYY is on "solid financial footing" but "the road ahead becomes more challenging" without federal funding.
- "Not just in sustaining what we do now, but in continuing to grow and innovate," he said.