(AP) — Nevada-based public media stations are appealing to listeners and viewers for help after President Donald Trump signed an executive order aiming to slash public subsidies to PBS and NPR, alleging bias in the broadcasters’ reporting.
The order instructs the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and other federal agencies “to cease Federal funding for NPR and PBS” and further requires that they work to root out indirect sources of public financing for the news organizations. The White House, in a social media posting announcing the signing, said the outlets “receive millions from taxpayers to spread radical, woke propaganda disguised as ‘news.’”
Four Nevada-based outlets have received nearly $3.9 million from this funding in fiscal year 2024. KUNR Public Radio, a Reno-based station under NPR, receives $267,000 annually from federal funding, meaning CPB supports 15 percent of KUNR’s total budget.
The CPB responded to Trump’s executive order saying the White House doesn’t have legal authority to defund public media. NPR’s president and CEO Katherine Miller vowed to challenge the executive order — a position echoed by KUNR leadership.
“We are just continuing on business as usual because that executive order does not hold legal water,” Brian Duggan, general manager for KUNR, said in an interview. “KUNR agrees with that position, that Congress is the only body that can affect anything in this realm.”
Duggan told The Nevada Independent that KUNR has already received $267,000 for fiscal year 2026, but that if the executive order survives an expected legal challenge, they won’t be receiving any additional funding for fiscal year 2027.
This funding supports the salaries of two government reporters whose work is free for the public to read.
In March 2017, Trump called for Congress to defund public media, and argued that public broadcasting is no longer educational and is instead a biased forum that suppresses conservative views.
The executive order only targets federal dollars — meaning private donations, foundation grants, corporate sponsorships, and member support will still help fund NPR affiliates and PBS.