• The Corporation for Public Broadcasting will shut down after losing $1.1 billion in federal funding.
• This marks the end of nearly six decades of support for local public media stations.
• Most CPB staff will be let go by September 30, with a small transition team remaining until January 2026.

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) announced its impending closure after Congress rescinded $1.1 billion in appropriations for public broadcasting last month. This funding cut is part of a broader $9 billion rescissions package and reflects the priorities of the Republican-controlled Congress and the Trump administration, which has long criticized public media as politically biased and unnecessary. CPB President Patricia Harrison stated, “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,” according to Reuters, NPR, and India Times.

The CPB has provided critical funding to more than 1,500 public radio and television stations, ensuring the production and dissemination of popular programs like "Sesame Street" and "Finding Your Roots". The recent cuts are projected to heavily impact smaller stations, particularly in rural areas where public media serves as a vital source of information and cultural content. As noted by sources, “Roughly 70% of the corporation’s money went directly to local public stations,” highlighting the potential fallout for community media outlets, according to Los Angeles Times, Al Jazeera, and India Times.

Following the funding cuts, CPB has informed its employees that most positions will be eliminated by September 30, 2025, with a small team remaining to manage the winding down of operations. This step marks a significant shift as public broadcasting has long been heralded as a trusted source of educational content, emergency alerts, and community connection. Harrison emphasized the importance of public media in American life, stating, “Public media has been one of the most trusted institutions...providing educational opportunity, emergency alerts, civil discourse, and cultural connection,” according to NPR, Los Angeles Times, and Al Jazeera.

Historically, public broadcasting has played a crucial role in providing cultural and educational programming to a diverse audience across the United States. The CPB was created by Congress in 1967 and has served as a lifeline for countless radio and television stations. The recent legislation sealing its fate marks the first time in over 50 years that CPB has been excluded from the annual appropriations bill. This development highlights a longstanding trend of funding challenges faced by the CPB in a hostile political environment towards public broadcasting, as noted by India Times, Reuters, and Los Angeles Times.