Trump Administration Targets Public and International Broadcasting
A series of actions by the Trump administration has significantly reduced or threatened federal funding for public and international broadcasters, prompting legal challenges and raising concerns about media independence. The moves target organizations like National Public Radio (NPR) and broadcasters under the federal Agency for Global Media.
President Donald Trump ended federal funding for National Public Radio (NPR) in 2025, fulfilling a long-standing promise by him and his conservative allies who have criticized the broadcaster as left-leaning [32221]. In response, NPR has sued the U.S. government, arguing a past executive order from Trump illegally targeted public broadcasting as punishment for perceived political bias [19294].
The funding cuts extend beyond domestic media. The administration also eliminated funding for all broadcasters run by the federal Agency for Global Media. This includes Radio Free Asia (RFA), whose Washington headquarters now sits nearly empty, halting its mission of providing uncensored news to audiences in restrictive regions like China and North Korea ">[24714]. Similarly, Congress halted funding for the Hungarian-language service of Radio Free Europe, a key source of independent news for Hungarian audiences [11557]. One U.S. government-funded broadcaster, Radio Free Asia, has also faced criticism for selling its taxpayer-funded broadcasting equipment online at a huge loss [9488].
The financial pressure has forced difficult choices at the local level. Arkansas's public television network, for instance, stopped broadcasting Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) programs entirely after a loss of federal funding, opting to air alternative content to stay on air [24059].
These defunding efforts are part of a broader pattern of confrontation with media organizations by the former president. Trump has publicly criticized outlets like the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and ABC News, at one point urging regulators to revoke ABC's broadcast licenses [7445][8968]. He has also filed a lawsuit against the BBC, alleging a documentary constituted election interference, though the broadcaster has rejected the claim [28483]. A chair of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) amplified a Trump post calling for a television host's dismissal, drawing attention despite the FCC's rules against censoring content [5983].