Corporation for Public Broadcasting defunded: What happened and what it means for public media

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), the primary source of federal funding for public media in the United States, including PBS, NPR and more than 1,500 local radio and television stations, announced on August 1, 2025 that it will shut down operations after Congress and the Trump Administration eliminated its funding. This marks the end of nearly 60 years of support for public broadcasting.

Public broadcasting faces uncertainty as CPB announces shutdown after federal funding cuts in 2025

CPB to Shut Down: What This Means for Public Broadcasting and Your Local Stations

• CPB Closure: CPB will shut down most operations at the end of the current fiscal year, which ends on September 30, 2025. A small transition team will continue to work until January 2026 to assist local stations and manage the closure process.

• Reason for closure: The closure was a result of a repeal bill passed in July 2025 that took away $1.1 billion in federal funds earmarked for public broadcasting by 2027. The bill was introduced by the Trump administration and passed largely along party lines.

• Impact on PBS and NPR: Both PBS and NPR rely heavily on CPB funds—especially local stations, which are now in trouble. While large urban stations can run on private donations, stations in rural areas could face drastic cuts or closure without CPB support.

• No immediate closure of PBS, NPR, PBS Kids: The PBS and NPR organizations have not announced their closures, but have warned of a significant reduction in programs and access. PBS Kids continues to launch new shows, such as "Phoebe & Jay," which will premiere in the fall of 2025.

• PBS NewsHour and local programs: PBS NewsHour and other flagship programs will attempt to continue broadcasting, but funding shortfalls may result in staff reductions or programming changes. The scope of the changes to these programs will become clear in the coming months.

• CPB Staff Layoffs: Most of CPB's staff will leave by September 30, 2025, with only a few remaining for a transition period.

• Broader Cultural Impact: The shutdown is expected to have a profound impact, particularly on rural or underserved communities that rely on the free, reliable news, educational programs and emergency information provided through public radio and television.

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How was the Corporation for Public Broadcasting defunded

• The CPB funding shutdown comes after long-standing criticisms from some Republican lawmakers that public media exhibit political bias and that federal funding is unnecessary.

• Despite public campaigns by millions of Americans to save national public broadcasting, the decision was made to end funding in the summer of 2025.