Washington, D.C. (May 2, 2025)—President Donald Trump has signed an executive order directing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which supports PBS and NPR stations nationwide, to “cancel existing direct funding to the maximum extent allowed by law and shall decline to provide future funding."
"The executive order to end federal funding for public broadcasters, if successful, is a devastating blow to the free and universal access to educational and cultural content that Kansas City PBS and similar stations provide,” said Kliff Kuehl, president and CEO of Kansas City PBS, Flatland and 90.9 The Bridge. “We will continue to serve our community and deliver quality programming despite these challenges.”
In a written statement, Patricia Harrison, President and CEO of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, said, “CPB is not a federal executive agency subject to the President’s authority. Congress directly authorized and funded CPB to be a private nonprofit corporation wholly independent of the federal government.”
Currently, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting receives less than 0.01% of the federal budget, and these funds support over 1,500 local public radio and television stations, many in rural or underserved areas with limited access to media. Without alternative funding sources, many of these stations will face severe downsizing, and some may be forced to cease operations entirely, leaving communities without local news, emergency broadcasts, or educational programming.
PBS President and CEO, Paula Kerger also responded to the order in a written statement saying, "The President’s blatantly unlawful Executive Order, issued in the middle of the night, threatens our ability to serve the American public with educational programming, as we have for the past 50-plus years. We are currently exploring all options to allow PBS to continue to serve our member stations and all Americans.”
NPR also issued a formal response.
Kansas City PBS continues to monitor this situation as it unfolds. To stay informed of updates and other station-related news, subscribe to our newsletters.
You can show your support for public media by contacting your lawmakers. Visit protectmypublicmedia.org for scripts, templates, and contact information for your representative.
*This post has been updated to include responses from NPR and PBS, as well as links to help readers stay informed and get involved.
About Kansas City PBS
Located in the heart of Kansas City, MO, Kansas City PBS is a non-profit multimedia organization serving the community since 1961. The PBS member station airs diverse content focused on civic affairs, science, food, drink, arts and culture on four television channels, including Channel 19.1, 19.2, 19.3 (Create) and 19.4, the 24-hour PBS kids channel. Channels 19.1 and 19.4 are also available to live stream online, with programming available on-demand in the PBS App and Kansas City PBS Passport, a member-benefit streaming service. Kansas City PBS serves students, caregivers and the local education community through free online resources, workshops for parents and teachers, and annual conferences and events. It also owns and operates the local NPR music station, 90.9 The Bridge, providing nonprofit radio in a AAA format to listeners over the air and online streaming. Kansas City PBS’ nonprofit source for local journalism, Flatland (flatlandkc.org), produces multimedia reporting focused on civic affairs, arts and culture, food and drink, and education. For more information on Kansas City PBS or its wide variety of local and national content, visit kansascitypbs.org.