The Corporation for Public Broadcasting announced on Aug. 1 that it was starting an “orderly wind-down of its operations” weeks after Congress passed a measure that clawed back more than $1 billion in funds to the organization.
The announcement came a day after U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, said the Senate Appropriations Committee hadn’t included funding for the corporation in its fiscal 2026 spending bill.
“It is a shameful reality, and now communities across the country will suffer the consequences as over 1,500 stations lose critical funding,” Murray said, according to The Hill.
The corporation has said more than 70% of its federal funding, which it disperses to NPR and PBS, goes to local public media stations. PBS advocates previously told USA TODAY the budget cuts would disproportionately affect rural areas.
President Donald Trump called for the outlets’ federal funding to be pulled in May, saying “neither entity presents a fair, accurate or unbiased portrayal of current events to taxpaying citizens.”
Corporation for Public Broadcasting employees were told on Aug. 1 that most staff positions would be slashed as the fiscal year ends on Sept. 30. Some staff would remain through January 2026 to “ensure a responsible and orderly closeout of operations,” according to the corporation’s news release.
“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,” Corporation for Public Broadcasting President and CEO Patricia Harrison said. “We are deeply grateful to our partners across the system for their resilience, leadership, and unwavering dedication to serving the American people.”
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting was established by Congress in 1967.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
BrieAnna Frank is a First Amendment Reporting Fellow at USA TODAY. Reach her at bjfrank@usatoday.com.
USA TODAY’s coverage of First Amendment issues is funded through a collaboration between the Freedom Forum and Journalism Funding Partners. Funders do not provide editorial input.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Corporation for Public Broadcasting to shut down after budget cuts
