CPB agrees to revive a $36 million deal with NPR killed after Trump's pressure

"The arrangement resolves litigation filed by NPR accusing the corporation of illegally yielding to Trump's demands that the network be financially punished for its news coverage. The argument, part of a broader lawsuit by NPR and several stations against the Trump administration, focused on CPB funding for NPR's operation of a satellite distribution system for local public radio stations. The judge in the case had explicitly told CPB's legal team he did not find its defense credible."

"CPB lawyers had argued that the decision to award the contract to a new consortium of public media institutions was driven by a desire to foster digital innovations more swiftly. In its submission Monday evening to the court, CPB did not concede that it had acted wrongfully nor that it had yielded to political pressure from the administration. Federal subsidies for public broadcasting stopped on Oct. 1 as a result of a party-line vote over the summer by Congress, called a rescission."

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting agreed to fulfill a $36 million, multi-year contract with NPR that had been canceled after pressure from the Trump White House. The agreement ends litigation accusing CPB of illegally yielding to presidential demands to financially punish NPR for its news coverage. The dispute centered on CPB funding for NPR's satellite distribution system for local public radio stations. A federal judge previously told CPB's lawyers he did not find their defense credible. CPB maintained in court filings that it did not concede wrongful action or submission to political pressure. Federal subsidies were rescinded on Oct. 1, forcing cutbacks and straining local stations.

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