MARYLAND – President Donald Trump signed an executive order on May 1, 2025, to halt federal funding for National Public Radio (NPR) and PBS stations in Maryland, citing “biased and partisan news coverage.” The order, which affects 17 Maryland radio and television channels affiliated with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), including 88.1 WYPR, 91.5 WBJC, 106.9 WYPO, WMPT, WYPF, WTMD, and Maryland Public Television (MPT), aims to eliminate both direct and indirect public financing for these outlets.
The executive order directs the CPB and other federal agencies to “cease Federal funding for NPR and PBS” and to prevent local stations from using CPB funds to support NPR or PBS content. The White House, in a social media post, claimed the broadcasters “receive millions from taxpayers to spread radical, woke propaganda disguised as ‘news.’” The order argues that government funding for media is “outdated and unnecessary” in a landscape with diverse news options, asserting it undermines “journalistic independence.”
“Federal funds are vital to our operation here in Maryland,” said MPT CEO Larry Unger in a statement before the cuts. “They help MPT deliver life-saving emergency alerts and public safety information, proven educational programs and resources for children and families, and they ensure access to our rural communities.” The CPB distributes approximately $535 million annually to public media, with PBS receiving about 15 percent of its budget and NPR about 1 percent directly from federal sources, though local stations often rely on 8 to 10 percent of their funding from CPB grants.
Paula Kerger, PBS CEO and president, called the order “blatantly unlawful” in a statement last month, warning that defunding would “disrupt the essential service PBS and local member stations provide to the American public.” She emphasized PBS’s role in preparing children for school and delivering high-quality programming, crediting bipartisan congressional support for its success. “There’s nothing more American than PBS,” Kerger said.
The CPB, a private nonprofit created by Congress in 1967, has challenged the order’s legality. “CPB is not a federal executive agency subject to the President’s authority,” said CPB President Patricia Harrison. Congress designed the CPB to be independent, explicitly prohibiting federal control over public broadcasting. The CPB is already suing the Trump administration over an attempt to remove three of its five board members, which could disrupt its operations by eliminating a quorum.
The broadcasters have faced scrutiny from Trump and Republican lawmakers, who accuse them of liberal bias. The executive order follows a March 2025 House hearing where NPR and PBS leaders defended their programming against allegations of partisanship. The White House has also proposed rescinding $1.1 billion in CPB funding, though this request has not yet reached Congress.
Maryland’s public media stations, particularly in rural areas, rely on federal funds to provide local news, emergency alerts, and educational content. The cuts could disproportionately affect smaller stations, which depend on CPB grants for up to 50 percent of their budgets. NPR and PBS have vowed to challenge the order, with NPR stating it will “vigorously defend our right to provide essential news, information and life-saving services to the American public.”
The move aligns with broader Trump administration efforts to curb funding for media outlets perceived as unfavorable, including attempts to dismantle the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which oversees Voice of America and Radio Free Europe. Federal courts have previously blocked similar efforts, citing overreach in withholding congressionally appropriated funds.
As Maryland’s public broadcasters assess the order’s impact, the legal battle over CPB’s independence and the constitutionality of the executive action is expected to intensify. The outcome will shape the future of public media in Maryland and nationwide, where 40 million Americans listen to NPR and 36 million watch PBS monthly.
