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Published in Business and Finance on Tuesday, July 29th 2025 at 8:02 GMT by CNN
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In Alaska's North Slope region the northernmost county in the US, roughly the same size as the United Kingdom one small public radio station keeps eight villages connected and serves about 10,000 people. Now, it may not survive.

Trump Administration Pushes to Defund PBS and NPR Through Budget Rescissions, Threatening Remote Stations in Alaska

In a renewed assault on public broadcasting, the Trump administration has proposed significant budget cuts to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which funds PBS and NPR, through a mechanism known as rescissions. This move, outlined in a recent White House budget proposal, aims to slash millions in federal funding already appropriated by Congress, with particularly dire consequences for remote public radio stations in Alaska. The proposal revives long-standing Republican criticisms of public media as biased and unnecessary in an era of abundant private alternatives, but it has sparked fierce opposition from Democrats, media advocates, and rural communities reliant on these services.

The rescission package, submitted to Congress under the Impoundment Control Act, targets approximately $445 million in CPB funding for fiscal year 2025. This includes forward funding that public broadcasters rely on to plan programming years in advance. Rescissions allow the president to request that Congress cancel previously approved spending, a tool Trump used sparingly in his first term but is now wielding more aggressively amid promises to "drain the swamp" and eliminate what he calls "wasteful" government programs. In a statement from the White House, officials argued that taxpayer dollars should not subsidize "left-leaning" media outlets like PBS and NPR, which they claim promote progressive agendas on issues such as climate change, immigration, and social justice.

This isn't the first time Trump has targeted public broadcasting. During his initial presidency from 2017 to 2021, he repeatedly proposed zeroing out CPB funding in his annual budgets, only to see Congress restore the allocations through bipartisan support. Those efforts were often framed as part of a broader war on what Trump dubbed the "fake news" media, including outlets like CNN and The New York Times. Now, in what appears to be a second term bolstered by a Republican-controlled Congress, the administration sees rescissions as a faster path to defunding without needing full budget negotiations. "We're not going to keep funding propaganda machines that attack conservatives," a senior administration official told reporters, echoing Trump's frequent social media posts lambasting PBS shows like "Sesame Street" for allegedly indoctrinating children and NPR for its coverage of his policies.

The impact of these proposed cuts would be felt nationwide, but nowhere more acutely than in Alaska's vast, isolated regions. Public radio stations in remote areas, such as those operated by Alaska Public Media and smaller affiliates in places like Bethel, Unalaska, and Kotzebue, serve as lifelines for communities where commercial media is scarce or nonexistent. These stations provide essential services beyond news and entertainment: emergency alerts during harsh winters, educational programming for remote schools, health information in Indigenous languages, and even weather updates critical for fishermen and pilots navigating treacherous terrains.

In Alaska, where over 700,000 residents are spread across an area larger than Texas, California, and Montana combined, public broadcasting fills a void left by market forces. Many of these stations receive CPB grants that make up a significant portion of their budgets—sometimes up to 40% for the smallest operations. Without this funding, experts warn, several could shutter, leaving residents without access to reliable information. "In places like the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, public radio isn't just a nice-to-have; it's how people survive," said Sarah Gustafson, executive director of a rural Alaska media nonprofit. She described scenarios where stations broadcast evacuation notices during floods or coordinate search-and-rescue efforts via ham radio integrations.

The proposal has drawn sharp rebukes from Alaskan officials, including Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski, who has historically defended public broadcasting funding due to its importance in her state. Murkowski, along with Democratic colleagues, has vowed to fight the rescissions in the Senate, arguing that defunding would exacerbate rural isolation and hinder economic development. "Alaska's unique geography demands unique solutions, and public media is one of them," Murkowski said in a statement. "This isn't about politics; it's about public safety and connectivity."

PBS and NPR executives have also mobilized against the cuts. Patricia Harrison, president of the CPB, emphasized in a press conference that public broadcasters reach 99% of Americans and provide nonpartisan, educational content that private media often overlooks. "Our funding model ensures independence and accountability to the public, not to advertisers or political donors," Harrison stated. NPR's CEO, John Lansing, highlighted the network's role in investigative journalism, such as exposés on government corruption and public health crises, which he said are vital to democracy. Both organizations have launched advocacy campaigns, urging supporters to contact lawmakers and stressing that federal funding constitutes only a small fraction of their overall budgets—about 15% for NPR and less for PBS, with the rest coming from donations, sponsorships, and state support.

Critics of the defunding push argue it's part of a larger pattern of media suppression under Trump. Media watchdogs like Free Press and the Committee to Protect Journalists have condemned the move as an attack on press freedom, drawing parallels to authoritarian regimes that control state media. "Rescinding funds mid-year disrupts operations and sends a chilling message to journalists," said Craig Aaron of Free Press. Supporters, however, including conservative groups like the Heritage Foundation, applaud the effort, claiming public broadcasting has drifted leftward. A Heritage report cited examples such as NPR's coverage of the January 6 Capitol riot and PBS documentaries on racial inequality as evidence of bias.

The rescission process requires congressional approval, which must occur within 45 days of the proposal's submission. With Republicans holding slim majorities in both chambers, the outcome is uncertain. Some GOP members from rural states, like those in the Midwest and West, may balk at cuts that affect their constituents, similar to past budget battles where farm-state senators preserved agricultural subsidies. Democrats, led by figures like Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (assuming a hypothetical shift), have pledged to block the rescissions, framing them as an assault on free speech and rural America.

Beyond Alaska, the cuts could ripple through educational programming nationwide. PBS, home to staples like "Masterpiece" and children's shows such as "Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood," relies on CPB funds to distribute content to over 300 local stations. Defunding could lead to reduced hours, canceled series, or increased reliance on corporate underwriting, potentially compromising editorial independence. For NPR, which operates more than 1,000 member stations, the loss might force layoffs and scaled-back reporting, particularly in undercovered areas like environmental policy and international affairs.

In remote Alaskan communities, the stakes are even higher. Take, for instance, KYUK in Bethel, a station that broadcasts in Yup'ik and English, serving a population where internet access is spotty and cell service unreliable. "We are the voice of the delta," said station manager Shane Iverson. "Without us, elders lose cultural stories, kids lose learning tools, and everyone loses emergency info." Similar stories emerge from stations in the Aleutian Islands, where public radio provides tsunami warnings and fishery updates essential for livelihoods.

As the debate heats up, public broadcasting advocates are rallying support through petitions and town halls, emphasizing the bipartisan value of these institutions. Trump, meanwhile, has doubled down on his rhetoric, tweeting that "PBS and NPR are relics of the past—time to cut the cord!" The coming weeks will test whether Congress upholds the funding or bows to executive pressure, potentially reshaping the landscape of American media.

This proposal comes at a time when trust in media is at historic lows, with polls showing deep partisan divides. Yet, public broadcasters often score higher in credibility surveys, thanks to their mandate for balanced reporting. The fight over rescissions thus encapsulates broader tensions: between fiscal conservatism and public goods, between urban media abundance and rural needs, and between political ideology and journalistic integrity.

If the cuts proceed, it could mark the beginning of a leaner era for public media, forcing innovations like digital fundraising or partnerships with tech giants. But for Alaska's remote stations, the immediate future looks precarious, hanging on the whims of Washington politics far from the frozen tundra they serve. As one listener in Nome put it, "Without our station, we're cut off from the world—and that's a dangerous place to be."

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[ https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/29/media/pbs-npr-trump-defund-rescissions-alaska-remote-stations ]

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