United States President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday aimed at cutting federal subsidies to PBS and NPR, accusing the broadcasters of “bias” in their reporting.
The order directs the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and other federal agencies to “cease federal funding for NPR and PBS” and requires them to work to eliminate indirect sources of government support for news organizations.
In a social media post announcing the signing, the White House said the media “receive millions from taxpayers to spread radical, agitprop disguised as 'news.'”
It is the latest move by Mr. Trump and his administration to use federal powers to control or restrict the activities of organizations with whose positions or opinions he disagrees.
Since taking office, Mr. Trump has fired executives, placed staff on administrative leave and cut hundreds of millions of dollars in funding to the arts, libraries, museums, theaters and other institutions through his takeover of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Mr. Trump also advocated cutting off federal research and education funding to universities and punishing law firms if they refused to end diversity programs and other measures he considered unacceptable.
Broadcasters receive about half a billion dollars in government funds through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and are bracing for possible deep cuts after Mr. Trump's election, as Republicans have long expressed dissatisfaction with their performance.
Paula Kerger, CEO and president of PBS, said in a statement last month that the Trump administration's efforts to defund public media “will disrupt the essential services that PBS and its local member stations provide to the American people.”
“There is nothing more American than PBS, and our work is possible only because of the bipartisan support we have always received from Congress,” she said.
“This public-private partnership helps us support millions of children in preparing for success in school and life, and provides enriching and inspiring programs of the highest quality.”
This week, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting sued Mr. Trump over his decision to fire three members of its five-member board of directors, arguing that the president overstepped his authority and that the action would deprive the board of a quorum needed to conduct business.
Just two weeks ago, the White House said it would ask Congress to defund CPB as part of a $9.1 billion (£6.8 billion) package of cuts. However, the package, according to the budget director,
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
