PBS has filed a lawsuit against US President Donald Trump and other administration officials to stop his order to cut funding to the US broadcaster, just three days after NPR took a similar step against its radio network.
In its lawsuit, PBS makes similar arguments, arguing that Mr. Trump overstepped his authority and committed “opinion discrimination” by claiming that PBS’s news coverage was biased against conservatives.
“PBS vigorously disputes these allegations,” ZW attorney Julius Chen said in a filing in a U.S. court in Washington.
“However, regardless of any political disagreement about the role of public television, our Constitution and laws prohibit the president from acting as a judge of PBS programming, including efforts to defund PBS,” he added.
It was the latest in a wave of lawsuits filed against the administration for its actions, including several from media organizations harmed by Mr. Trump's orders.
A PBS spokesman said that “after careful consideration, PBS has concluded that legal action is necessary to protect the editorial independence of public television and the autonomy of PBS member stations.”
Mr. Trump's order “would have a significant impact on the ability of PBS and PBS member stations to provide a diverse selection of programming to all Americans,” Mr. Chen said.
PBS said the U.S. Department of Education has canceled a $78 million grant to the system for educational programming that was used to create children's shows such as “Sesame Street,” “Clifford the Big Red Dog” and “Reading Rainbow.”
In addition to Mr. Trump, the lawsuit names other administration officials, including Education Secretary Linda McMahon, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
According to PBS, its technology is used as a backup for the nation's wireless emergency alert system.
The administration has clashed with several media organizations. State-run news services like Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty are also facing challenges, the Associated Press is battling the White House over press access, and the Federal Communications Commission is investigating television news operations.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
