White House seeks to rescind $1.1 billion in CPB funding
Billy Wilson / Flickr via Creative Commons
President Trump sent a $9.4 billion rescission package to Congress Tuesday that includes previously appropriated funding to CPB, the Office of Management and Budget announced.
The president seeks to roll back $535 million in both FY26 and FY27 funding for CPB that was appropriated by Congress in FY24 and FY25. CPB is funded two years in advance.
“These funds would be used to subsidize a public media system that is politically biased and an unnecessary expense to the taxpayer. Enacting the rescission would eliminate Federal funding for CPB,” OMB Director Russell Vought wrote in the proposal.
In addition to CPB, the president is attempting to rescind funding to the U.S. Agency for International Development, the U.S. Institute of Peace and other international assistance programs.
CPB CEO Patricia Harrison said in a statement that the “path to better public media is achievable only if funding is maintained. Otherwise, a vital lifeline that operates reliable emergency communications, supports early learning, and keeps local communities connected and informed will be cut off with regrettable and lasting consequences.”
“CPB looks forward to working with policymakers, stakeholders, and the American public to maintain funding and strengthen the public trust,” she said.
“We urge Congress to reject the destructive recissions of public broadcasting funding, respect the clear will of the American people and the long history of bipartisan support for our work, and continue the federal government’s investment in local public television stations’ essential missions of public safety, education and community connections,” Kate Riley, CEO of America’s Public Television Stations, said in a statement.
For the cuts to be enacted, Congress would need to pass the proposal in 45 legislative days. Speaker Mike Johnson said the House would “act quickly” to approve the package, Politico reported.
In the Senate, where the package would need a simple majority to pass, Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins pointed to one item in the package, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, for which she would not support rescinding funding, Politico reported.
