• President Trump enacted an executive order targeting federal funding for NPR and PBS.
• The order alleges that both broadcasters produce biased and "woke" content funded by taxpayers.
• The Corporation for Public Broadcasting claims funding is under Congressional authority, not the President's.
• Leaders from PBS and NPR have called the order "blatantly unlawful" and a threat to public media.
• The potential funding cuts could devastate local stations, especially in rural areas.

President Trump signed an executive order on Thursday aimed at slashing federal funding for National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), alleging that both organizations engage in biased reporting and promote "woke propaganda." The order directs the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) to cease federal funding for these outlets to the maximum extent allowed by law, and it requires a review of indirect funding as well, according to the text of the order released by the White House CBS News, Los Angeles Times, and Forbes.

The order aims to eliminate federal support that approximately half a billion dollars has provided to these organizations, amidst long-standing complaints from Republicans about perceived biases in their programming. The document has been criticized for being part of a broader campaign by the Trump administration to undermine institutions viewed as politically unfavorable. PBS CEO Paula Kerger labeled the order "blatantly unlawful," contending it threatens PBS's mission to provide educational content to the American public Reuters, India Times, and India Times.

In response to Trump’s directive, Patricia Harrison, president and CEO of the CPB, stated that “CPB is not a federal executive agency subject to the President's authority” and stressed that its funding is determined by Congress. Legal experts suggest this executive order could face significant challenges in court, especially since Congress previously approved CPB's funding through 2027. The ramifications of cutting funding would significantly impact local stations that rely on federal funds to operate NPR, BBC, and ABC News.

President Trump's move has been characterized as part of his broader goal to reshape cultural institutions perceived as hostile to his administration. Critics argue that this poses a danger not only to public broadcasting but to the overall landscape of media freedom in the United States Al Jazeera, HuffPost, and AA.