The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) announced Friday that it will wind down its operation after losing federal funding.
CPB is a nonprofit, non-governmental organization in the United States that funds and supports public broadcasting, including PBS and NPR member stations.
Why It Matters
CPB’s shut-down comes after the organization lost more than $1 billion in federal funding, which Congress revoked after Donald Trump’s administration requested it.
Trump lambasted PBS and NPR in May, saying that “neither entity presents a fair, accurate or unbiased portrayal of current events to taxpaying citizens.”
What To Know
“For nearly 60 years, CPB has carried out its Congressional mission to build and sustain a trusted public media system that informs, educates, and serves communities across the country,” CPB said in a statement. “Through partnerships with local stations and producers, CPB has supported educational content, locally relevant journalism, emergency communications, cultural programming, and essential services for Americans in every community.”
Established by Congress in 1967, the nonprofit organization has served as the principal distributor of federal funds to PBS, NPR and hundreds of local media organizations.
CPB has touted its grants for enabling educational programming, cultural content, independent journalism and emergency broadcast services, particularly benefiting underserved rural and tribal communities.
What People Are Saying
CPB President and CEO Patricia Harrison said in a statement: “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 remains committed to fulfilling its fiduciary responsibilities and supporting our partners through this transition with transparency and care.”
Harrison added: “Public media has been one of the most trusted institutions in American life, providing educational opportunity, emergency alerts, civil discourse, and cultural connection to every corner of the country. We are deeply grateful to our partners across the system for their resilience, leadership, and unwavering dedication to serving the American people.”
This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow.
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