NPR to get $36 million in government funds to operate U.S. public radio system

"But the CPB reversed course under mounting pressure from the Trump administration, according to NPR. The agency redirected federal interconnection funds away from NPR to an entity that didn't exist and wasn't statutorily authorized to receive it, NPR says. CPB attorneys denied that the agency retaliated against NPR to appease Trump. They had argued that NPR's claims are factually and legally meritless. On May 1, Trump issued an executive order that called for federal agencies to stop funding for NPR and PBS."

"On March 25, Trump said at a news conference that he would "love to" defund NPR and PBS because he believes they are biased in favor of Democrats. NPR accused the CPB of violating its First Amendment free speech rights when it moved to cut off its access to grant money appropriated by Congress. NPR also claims Trump, a Republican, wants to punish it for the content of its journalism."

National Public Radio will receive about $36 million in grant money to operate the public radio interconnection system under a court settlement with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The settlement partially resolves a dispute in which NPR accused CPB of bowing to presidential pressure after President Trump said he would "love to" defund NPR and PBS. NPR alleged CPB cut off access to congressionally appropriated grant money and redirected interconnection funds to an unauthorized entity. CPB denied retaliation and called NPR's claims meritless. The settlement does not end NPR's separate lawsuit challenging the executive order; a hearing is scheduled for Dec. 4.

Read at Fast Company