President Trump's recent executive order aims to halt federal funding for NPR and PBS, citing their alleged lack of unbiased reporting. However, legal experts highlight that the President may lack the authority to enforce such an order, as the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) operates independently from federal influence. Established in 1967, the CPB is designed to ensure public broadcasting remains free from political control. This tension raises questions about the future of public media funding and its political implications.
"Neither entity presents a fair, accurate, or unbiased portrayal of current events to taxpaying citizens," the order reads. "I therefore instruct the CPB Board of Directors and all executive department and agencies to cease Federal funding for NPR and PBS."
"CPB is not a federal executive agency subject to the President's authority," she said in the press release. "Congress directly authorized and funded CPB to be a nonprofit corporation wholly independent of the federal government."
The CPB was established in 1967 under the Johnson administration as a part of the Public Broadcasting Act (PBA). Within the Act, Congress explicitly forbids "any department, agency, officer, or employee of the United States to exercise any direction, supervision, or control over public telecommunications, or over the Corporation or any of its grantees or contractors."
CPB registered as a nonprofit in 1968 and established PBS in 1969 as a means of connecting public television stations and distribute programming. NPR incorporated in 1970 as a public radio program service.
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