It’s time to take a stand for this trusted public service you rely on.
Public media is facing funding cuts at both the state and federal level that would significantly impact our programming, including news, music and culture, educational programs and the emergency alert system.
The White House is seeking the elimination of funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), a private, nonprofit corporation that supports 1,300 local public media stations across the country as well as NPR and PBS.
This would effectively dismantle the public media ecosystem. Take a stand for this trusted public service you rely on today.
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Recently, President Trump issued Executive Order called “Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Biased Media,” which prohibits any public media station that receive CPB or other federal funds from using those dollars for NPR and PBS. While the Executive Order does not immediately terminate CPB funding, or the funding public media stations receive through the CPB, it could present a significant challenge to the public media system. The CPB has issued a statement asserting it is not a federal government agency subject to the President’s authority.
Also, President Trump attempted to fire three members of the CPB Board. The CPB immediately filed a lawsuit against the Administration noting that CPB is an independent organization, not a government entity, and its board members are not government officers. A judge issued an order preventing the firing of these Board members, with another hearing scheduled for May 14.
Finally, President Trump released his FY26 Budget Proposal, which proposes the elimination of funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. It is also important to note that while this budget proposal provides a guide to Congress regarding the President’s priorities, it is not binding. It is up to Congress to determine funding levels for the CPB.
How to Help
There are many ways to show your support for APM.
1. Contact your representatives
The White House wants to eliminate $1.1 billion for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and funding for NPR and PBS coming from the CPB and other agencies. This would effectively dismantle the public media ecosystem by defunding the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Please reach out to your federal representatives and urge them to vote against these cuts.
2. Take action: Sign our petition to let Congress know you oppose efforts to defund the CPB and demonstrate your unwavering support for these valuable public media services.
We will deliver the petition to the White House and Congress.
3. Tune in, log on and engage with your favorite APM content
Show your support for public media by tuning in to Marketplace, The Splendid Table, Brains On! and other APM shows on the radio, podcast, web, apps, and social media.
4. Make a Donation
Donations to APM support trusted journalism, music discovery, and community conversation for all – no matter where you live or how you listen. From the broadcast to the podcast, on-air and online, gifts from individuals power everything you find at APM. Make a donation today.
5. Share your support on social media!
Post a message about what you love about public media. Feel free to include one of our shareable graphics.
Social Media Toolkit: Share Your Support
You can make a difference just by sharing your support on social media. Post a message about what you love about public media. Feel free to include the graphics below and the hashtag #ProtectMyPublicMedia.
Sample post:
I value the news, music and culture, and educational programs which are offered for free by public media. Cuts to federal funding would have a devastating impact on public media stations nationwide. Join me and take action at americanpublicmedia.org/action #ProtectMyPublicMedia
Graphics:
Why is American Public Media and the public media ecosystem important?
As the second largest public media content distributor in the nation, APM delivers programming and services of unparalleled value across the country.
Public media is the country’s only no-cost, commercial-free, nonprofit news and information service, resulting from a highly efficient public-private partnership.
Public media strengthens our society by delivering balanced, fact-based insights and diverse perspectives that foster meaningful dialogue and build community connections while serving as the backbone of emergency alert systems that keep Americans informed and safe during emergencies.
Contact Us
Inquiries for American Public Media should be directed to our Member & Audience Services department by using our our contact form or by phone at 651-290-1212 | 1-800-228-7123. (Phones open 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. CT Monday through Thursday, open 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. CT Fridays).