Trump asks Congress to take back $1 billion in funding for public broadcasting

President Donald Trump proposed taking back more than $1 billion of funding for public broadcasting as part of his campaign promise to cut off federal dollars for NPR.

The White House asked Congress on June 3 to cut $9.4 billion in already approved spending, including the money for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which disburses money to public radio and television stations.

The Trump administration's efforts to cut funding follow the Department of Government Efficiency's work slashing billions of dollars of government programs. 

Congress has 45 days to act on the White House's package, and Politico reported that House Republicans could move it soon. 

Lawmakers may choose to include all or part of Trump's request and add amendments, said Steven Smith, Washington University in St. Louis professor emeritus of political science. A motion to adopt the package is decided by a simple majority vote.  

If both chambers pass the measure, the targeted spending is cancelled. If either chamber fails to approve a rescission bill or joint resolution, the affected spending must continue.. 

Congress did not approve Trump's proposed $15 billion rescissions measure in his first term. Congress can initiate rescissions on its own.

Trump has taken other steps to try to deliver on his promise to cut NPR's federal funds. Trump, who called NPR and PBS "radical left monsters," issued a May 1 executive order to cut off federal funding for NPR and PBS. NPR and PBS filed lawsuits in late May challenging the order. 

WLRN, the south Florida NPR station, and PBS News Hour are PolitiFact partners. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting funds a Poynter Institute fellowship that aims to strengthen the leadership and editorial excellence of public media station managers. Poynter owns PolitiFact.

Trump campaigned on a promise to cut off federal funding for NPR, one of 75 promises we are tracking on our MAGA-Meter. We will revisit this promise after lawmakers or the courts act, but for now we continue to rate it In the Works. 

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