President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he would not endorse any Republican senator who votes against defunding the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which oversees NPR and PBS.
Trump’s warning comes ahead of a Senate vote on a $9.4 billion rescission package previously approved by the House. The bill includes over $1 billion in cuts to the CPB, a nonprofit entity created by Congress that receives federal funding.
The House narrowly passed the package 214-212 last month. The Senate is expected to take up the bill in the coming week.
On Truth Social, Trump wrote, “It is very important that all Republicans adhere to my Recissions Bill and, in particular, DEFUND THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING (PBS and NPR), which is worse than CNN & MSDNC put together.”
He continued, “Any Republican that votes to allow this monstrosity to continue broadcasting will not have my support or Endorsement. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
The legislation proposes $8.3 billion in cuts to foreign initiatives, including funding for “Net Zero Cities” in Mexico, an Iraqi version of “Sesame Street,” and global LGBT programs. An additional $1.1 billion would come from eliminating CPB funding.
In May, Trump signed an executive order directing CPB to stop funding NPR and PBS, as the Daily Wire reported.
He cited a perceived left-wing bias in both organizations as justification for the move.
According to the order, the CPB’s statute mandates impartiality and prohibits support for any political party. The order argues that subsidizing NPR and PBS violates those principles by promoting biased content.
The order states, “Which viewpoints NPR and PBS promote does not matter. What does matter is that neither entity presents a fair, accurate, or unbiased portrayal of current events to taxpaying citizens.”
NPR and several smaller public networks have sued to block the executive order. They claim it conflicts with prior funding laws and violates the First Amendment.
The lawsuit is still pending in court. However, the issue could become irrelevant if the Senate passes the bill rescinding the funds.
Some Republicans have already expressed concerns about the proposed cuts. Maine Sen. Susan Collins (R) and Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R) have both voiced opposition.
South Dakota Sen. Mike Rounds (R) has also indicated he may seek to preserve funding specifically for American Indian public radio.
The CPB has long faced scrutiny from conservatives, who argue it operates with a liberal editorial slant despite being publicly funded.
The Senate vote will determine whether the proposed funding reductions are enacted into law or halted in the upper chamber.
If passed, the bill would mark a significant shift in federal media funding and potentially end decades of public broadcasting support.
Trump’s firm stance places additional pressure on Senate Republicans to support the cuts or risk losing his political endorsement.
The outcome could also impact broader negotiations over future federal budget priorities as the 2025 fiscal year advances.
