Trump to end federal funding for public broadcasters

Alsharq Tribune- Zainab Hussin 

US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to end federal funding for National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting Service, claiming they are biased.

The executive order, signed on Thursday, instructs the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and all federal departments and agencies to terminate the provision of funds to the two public broadcasters.

The White House accuses NPR and PBS of fueling "partisanship and left-wing propaganda with taxpayer dollars." It claims that they make "significant in-kind contributions to the Democrat party and its political causes."

The White House also criticizes them for children's programs that it says featured the issue of gender diversity.

PBS released a statement, calling the executive order "blatantly unlawful." It said the order threatens the broadcaster's ability to serve the American public with educational programming.

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting also reacted sharply, saying it is a private nonprofit corporation rather than a federal executive agency subject to the president's authority.

US public broadcasters are funded by subsidies from federal and local governments as well as donations from individuals and corporations. In the case of PBS, federal funds account for about 15 percent of its budget.

Federal funding is being used to maintain public broadcasting services in rural areas. The termination of the subsidies could affect local journalism.