Corporation for Public Broadcasting Cancels Itself: Votes to Dissolve to 'Protect the Future of Public Media'
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) has voted to dissolve itself, concluding its 58-year stewardship of public broadcasting in response to the loss of federal funding. CPB leaders described this decision as a necessary measure to safeguard public media from potential political manipulation after Congress eliminated its funding and passed significant budget cuts. The dissolution followed a May 2025 executive order by President Trump affirming that no media outlet has a constitutional right to taxpayer support, which fostered an environment of scrutiny and defunding. Despite the closure, CPB officials maintain that the mission of public media will persist through local stations, emphasizing its importance for democracy and education. Future advocacy for public media is anticipated as a new Congress may reassess its role and funding needs.
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The CPB's dissolution comes after Congress terminated all federal funding and enacted a $9 billion rescissions package in mid-2025, which included $1.1 billion in cuts specifically targeting CPB.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson lauded the funding cuts as a means to eliminate 'wasteful spending' and to defund allegedly 'politically biased' outlets, including NPR and PBS.
In May 2025, President Trump issued an executive order stating that no media outlet has a constitutional right to taxpayer subsidies, advocating for fair and nonpartisan coverage.
CPB faced a legal challenge from NPR over a suspended $36 million contract, which NPR claimed was politically motivated; the case was settled in November 2025 with CPB agreeing to honor the contract.
CPB Chair Ruby Calvert criticized the current Republican Congress for the funding cuts, asserting that they left the board without resources to support public media.
Despite the dissolution, CPB leaders expressed confidence in the resilience of public media, urging future leaders to recognize its value and defend its independence.
CPB President Patricia Harrison remarked that public media is essential to democracy and education, highlighting the ongoing commitment to ensure access to trustworthy and educational content.