Trump Administration to Ask Congress to Rescind Public Media Funding
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Christina Zeiders
On March 26, 2025, the U.S. House Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency (DOGE) held a hearing questioning NPR and PBS’s allocation and use of federal funds. Concerns about news reporting bias and editorial integrity in public media were raised, along with the potential defunding of public radio.
Yesterday, news dropped that Trump administration officials plan to ask Congress to rescind $1.1 billion in federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Currently, the Trump administration is not planning to ask Congress to rescind the $100 million allocated for emergency communications.
WITF receives approximately $1.3 million from federal grants — 8% of our revenue — which help pay for the educational, engaging and enriching PBS and NPR programming you watch and hear on WITF.
A decision to rescind public media funding would threaten our ability to support educators, families and lifelong learners through enriching community events, trusted news and information, and free access to thoughtful programming from PBS and NPR. It also endangers our ability to spotlight the local news and impactful stories that matter in our community.
Everything we do is supported by viewers, listeners and readers like you.
Here’s how you can help: Advocate for public media by emailing or calling your representatives in Congress.
- Send a message through Protect My Public Media
- Find your representatives’ phone numbers on congress.gov
As Central Pennsylvanians, we are connected to the larger nation through our shared national partnerships with PBS and NPR — sources of knowledge, education, information, news and culture. And locally, we provide reliable services for parents, children and those needing greater access. We are embedded in your community.
Despite this threat to public media, one thing is certain: With your support, public media in Central Pennsylvania isn’t going anywhere. Our work to provide high-quality news coverage by talented, award-winning journalists for all in our region will continue, as will our practice of meeting residents where they are.
We look forward to continuing to put you first by delivering fact-based, impactful news and telling local stories that make Central Pennsylvania such a unique community.
