What has happened so far in 2025:

On Thursday, January 30, 2025, the new Chair of the FCC, Brendan Carr, ordered an investigation of NPR and PBS to determine if any underwriting spots had crossed the line into prohibited commercial advertisements.

On Monday, February 3, 2025, a subcommittee of DOGE (Department Of Government Efficiency) called for the CEOs of NPR and PBS to testify about “systemically biased news coverage.”

On Wednesday, March 26, 2025, a US House subcommittee for DOGE (Department Of Government Efficiency) called the CEOs of NPR and PBS for questioning at a congressional hearing titled "Anti-American Airwaves: Holding the Heads of NPR and PBS Accountable."

On Tuesday, April 15, 2025, the Trump Administration drafted a memo to Congress outlining its intent to end nearly all federal funding for public media including the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), PBS and NPR.

On Thursday, April 24, 2025, the Indiana State Legislature took away all state funding for all Indiana public TV and radios stations, including PBS Fort Wayne, at the last minute and without warning or discussion in committee. That final package was submitted for a vote of approval, and approved on Friday, April 25 at 1:00pm. Indiana Governor Mike Braun signed this budget package into law on May 6, 2025.

On Thursday, May 1, 2025, President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14290, "Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Biased Media." This order aimed to eliminate federal funding for NPR and PBS, asserting that government funding of news media is outdated and detrimental to journalistic independence. The order directed the CPB to stop funding these organizations. The executive order also instructed the CPB to cease all direct and indirect funding for NPR and PBS, and mandated revisions to its 2025 General Provisions to reflect this. It also required all federal agencies to terminate direct or indirect funding to NPR and PBS. The order further directed relevant agencies, including the FCC, to investigate whether NPR and PBS had engaged in unlawful discrimination.

On Friday, May 30, 2025, PBS sued President Trump to block his executive order to cut off its federal funding, and accused the president of retaliating against the nonprofit over “perceived political slights in news coverage.” PBS was joined in this lawsuit by Lakeland PBS, which serves which serves rural areas in northern and central Minnesota. The suit states the executive order is an "existential threat to the station." This action came two days after NPR filed suit against President Trump, also to block his executive order.

On Tuesday, June 3, 2025, the White House sent a rescission bill to the US House of Representatives designed to claw back funding already approved by Congress for the CPB, PBS and NPR for the next two years. This legislation was passed without discussion by the House of Representatives on June 12, 2025. It was passed onto the US Senate for consideration, where it currently awaits their action.

On Wednesday, June 25, 2025, the Senate Appropriations Committee held a hearing on the rescission package that proposes taking back $1.1 billion in already-approved public media funding. Senators on the committee questioned President Trump's budget director about the administration's request to claw back funds for public media and foreign aid.

CRITICAL UPDATE:

PBS Fort Wayne and public media is facing its most urgent threat yet. The Administration has sent Congress a rescission package to eliminate $1.1 billion in already-approved funding. If enacted, it would rip essential services out of communities and force stations like PBS Fort Wayne off-air. The House approved this measure on Thursday, June 12, and it now is in the hands of the US Senate. Call your Senators now to save public media and tell them: Don’t defund PBS Fort Wayne.

Public Broadcasting is one of America’s best investments. For only about $1.60 per person each year, PBS delivers incredible value. Federal Funding for all public media (radio and TV) represents 0.01% of the federal budget. 

Protect My Public Media is an action network of Americans who are dedicated to protecting local public television and radio stations. They provide sample letters to elected leaders and send email updates on how to protect local stations. 

Our PBS Fort Wayne Team also invites you to join us as a member. Member donations are our largest funding source and make PBS Fort Wayne’s local work possible. 

Click Here to become a member today!

Tell your Indiana Senators and Congressional Representatives you want them to protect Public Television. 

Contact them using the information as sourced from www.congress.gov/ to let your voice be heard.

Live in Ohio? Let Your Senators and Congressional Representatives know that you want them to protect Public Television. 

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Are you a Michigan Resident? Let Your Senators and Congressional Representatives know that you want them to protect Public Television. 

Contact them using the information as sourced from www.congress.gov/ to let your voice be heard.