President Donald Trump signs orders to cut PBS and NPR funds
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to suspend direct funding for PBS and NPR.
National Public Radio on May 27 filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, calling for President Donald Trump’s executive order aimed at making federal funds unconstitutional from news agencies.
Trump’s May 1 order instructed the administration to suspend support for both NPR and PB with federal funds, claiming that “neither entity presents a fair, accurate or impartial portrayal of the current events paying taxes to citizens.”
In a May 27 statement, NPR defended the editorial standards, saying Trump’s orders were unconstitutional.
“NPR has the first right to be refuted to be released from government attempts to control private speeches from retaliation aimed at punishing and cooling protected speeches,” the statement said. “Based on the directive based on the content of the NPR programming, the executive order seeks to force NPR to adapt journalistic standards and editorial choices to government preferences in order to continue receiving federal funds.”
Three local public radio organizations, Aspen Public Radio, Colorado Public Radio and KSUT Public Radio, joined NPR as plaintiffs in the case. Listed defendants include Trump, Director of Management, Russell Vert, Secretary of Treasury Scott Bescent and Arts Chairman Maria Rosario Jackson.
Public Schools for Public Broadcasting, a nonprofit organization that distributes federal funds to NPR and PBS and local stations, are also listed as defendants.
Theodore J. Bootrus Jr., a lawyer representing NPR, said the executive order is unconstitutional and if it is allowed to withstand it will have far-reaching consequences.
“By attempting to suspend federal funding for NPR, the executive order will harm not only NPR and its member stations, but also millions of Americans across the country who rely on news, cultural programming and important emergency information,” Boutrous said in a statement to USA Today.
USA Today reached the White House for comment.
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