There is another proposal in Congress to cut off NPR funding, but unlike the one submitted last week, this one also would end taxpayer dollars going to PBS. What has been dubbed the Defund Government Sponsored Propaganda Act would prohibit federal funding from going to public broadcasters, including for the purchase of programming or to pay dues to the radio and television networks. It also says any money that has already been approved in the 2025, 2026, and 2027 fiscal years that has not been allocated will be returned to reduce the size of the public debt.
Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (R-NY) says as a former newspaper owner and publisher, she understands the vital role of balanced, non-partisan media. But she alleges NPR and PBS are “under the influence of radical left-wing ideologues” and no longer uphold the American principles of free thought and open discourse.
“Unfortunately, these taxpayer-funded outlets have chosen advocacy over accuracy, using public dollars to promote a political agenda rather than report the facts," Tenney said.
Senator Mike Lee (R-UT), who sponsored the Senate version of the bill, also dismissed the idea that public broadcasters are filling in coverage in areas that have become news deserts.
“Americans have hundreds of sources of news and commentary, and they don’t need politically biased, taxpayer-funded media choosing what they should see and hear,” he said. “PBS and NPR are free to compete in the marketplace of ideas using donations, but their public subsidy should end.”
The bill’s unveiling follows introduction of the proposed No More Funding for NPR Act of 2025 which would focus on cutting funding for NPR. But the bill sponsored by Rep. Dale Strong (R-AL) would not defund the public radio network if the Federal Emergency Management Agency is actively engaged in disaster response activities.
Federal dollars account for a small portion of public radio budgets. NPR receives about one percent of its funding directly from the federal government each year, while PBS receives 16%. A potentially bigger threat for public radio stations is an investigation that Top of FormBottom of FormFederal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr has opened into whether stations are violating the terms of their authorizations to operate as noncommercial educational stations by running underwriting announcements on behalf of for-profit entities.
Carr said last month that the Enforcement Bureau, with help from the FCC’s Media Bureau, will review the underwriting practices and related policies of NPR, PBS, and their broadcast member stations. Carr has also said that he believes federal funding of public media should end. “For my part, I do not see a reason why Congress should continue sending taxpayer dollars to NPR and PBS given the changes in the media marketplace,” he said.