The Trump administration has drafted a memo to Congress outlining its intent to end nearly all federal funding for public media, which includes NPR and PBS, according to a White House official who spoke to NPR.
The memo, which the administration plans to send to Congress when it reconvenes from recess on April 28, will open a 45-day window in which the House and Senate can either approve the rescission or allow the money to be restored.
The official, who spoke to NPR on condition of anonymity, confirmed the existence of the draft.
Wasn’t there some discussions earlier about the fact that government funding was less than 1% of what’s needed to run NPR ?
They’ve been so starved for funding for decades now, that most of NPR’s funding is from listener contributions. PBS as well, but I think to a slightly lesser degree.
Nah they get more than that, it’s like 40-70% but it filters through individual member stations. This cut will be felt. Even the shift in his first term towards more corporate donations to stay afloat hurt them, badly.
Not sure about those numbers: https://www.npr.org/about-npr/178660742/public-radio-finances
You know what, you’re right. Numbers have shifted since I last checked this, there’s more funding from members than before 2020. The (now 30%) station contribution has less federal dollars in it checking the larger station revenue reports. It’s probably around 15% without spreadsheeting it, I didn’t check PBS.