A federal judge ordered federal agencies to refrain from implementing an order from President Trump pulling funds for National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS).
U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss found the orders to be unconstitutional.
“It is difficult to conceive of clearer evidence that a government action is targeted at viewpoints that the President does not like and seeks to squelch,” the judge wrote. “The Executive Order seeks to exclude NPR and PBS from receiving federal grants or other funding because they have provided more positive coverage of his political opponents than of his party and allies, because their news coverage, in his view, tips left, and because they were critical of him.”
“Because the First Amendment does not tolerate viewpoint discrimination and retaliation of this type, the Court will issue judgment against the federal agency defendants declaring Section 3(a) of the Executive Order is unconstitutional and will issue an injunction barring these defendants from implementing it,” the ruling adds.
NPR’s President and CEO, Katherine Maher, celebrated the ruling. “Public media exists to serve the public interest — that of Americans — not that of any political agenda or elected official,” Maher said.
A similar comment was made by PBS head Paula Kerger, who said President Trump’s order is “textbook” discrimination. “At PBS, we will continue to do what we’ve always done: serve our mission to educate and inspire all Americans as the nation’s most trusted media institution,” she stated.
In May 2025, President Trump ordered the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) to stop funneling funds to NPR and PBS. “Unlike in 1967, when the CPB was established, today the media landscape is filled with abundant, diverse, and innovative news options,” the order read. “Government funding of news media in this environment is not only outdated and unnecessary but corrosive to the appearance of journalistic independence.”
