The heat is on for PBS and NPR as President Trump throws his weight behind calls to pull the plug on their taxpayer funding. Trump says he’d “love to” see the cuts happen, echoing sentiments from lawmakers like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene who are tired of footing the bill for what many see as biased programming.
The Media Research Center is leading the charge, arguing taxpayers shouldn’t be forced to subsidize media outlets pushing a radical agenda.
.@Banned_Bill is right
Sign the petition to end taxpayer funding to NPR and PBS: https://t.co/OK8H7NXACS pic.twitter.com/pNAuVxlgnx
— Media Research Center (@theMRC) April 11, 2025
They say the days when Uncle Sam needed to fund broadcasting are long gone, especially with countless news sources available today. Why keep pumping half a billion dollars a year into organizations that critics say have become echo chambers for the left?
Senator Mike Lee isn’t just talking; he’s acting. The Utah Republican introduced the “Defund Government Sponsored Propaganda Act” to cut off the federal gravy train for PBS and NPR. Rep. Claudia Tenney is carrying the torch in the House. Lee argues these outlets should rely on donations like everyone else, not public subsidies, especially when Americans have plenty of other news options.
Of course, the usual suspects are fighting back. Over a million people, rallied by progressive groups like MoveOn.org, signed petitions demanding Congress keep the taxpayer cash flowing. They claim it only costs about $1.39 per person and that public media is a vital, trusted news source, particularly for folks in rural areas.
It’s a classic D.C. showdown: taxpayer freedom versus the public broadcasting establishment. With Trump backing the cuts and legislation on the table, the future of Big Bird and the tote bag brigade looks shakier than ever. Stay tuned.
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