CPB to Wind Down Operations Following Rescissions Bill

RADIO ONLINE | Friday, August 1, 2025 | 3:06pm CT

Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB)

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) announced Friday it will begin the process of winding down operations and preparing for full closure. The decision follows the passage of the Rescissions Act of 2025 (H.R. 4) and the release of the Senate Appropriations Committee's fiscal year 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-H) appropriations bill, which eliminates future funding for the organization.

The move signals the end of more than five decades of federal support for public broadcasting through CPB, which has provided critical funding and guidance to local public media stations, educational programming, and independent journalism nationwide.

In response to the announcement, NPR President and CEO Katherine Maher issued a statement calling CPB "a cornerstone of public broadcasting" and warned of the widespread impact of its closure.

"CPB upheld the core values of the Public Broadcasting Act, including support for diverse voices, promotion of excellence and creative risk, and advancing service for the unserved and underserved," said Maher. "The ripple effects of this closure will be felt across every public media organization and, more importantly, in every community across the country that relies on public broadcasting."

Maher also expressed gratitude to CPB staff for their decades of service and reaffirmed NPR's commitment to supporting its member stations and sustaining public media's mission despite the loss of federal support.

"As an independent, nonprofit news organization, NPR remains resolute in our pursuit of our mission: to create an informed and inspired public," she said.

The CPB's closure represents a significant shift in the public media landscape and raises questions about the future viability of smaller or rural stations that have historically depended on its funding and guidance. No timeline has been provided yet for the complete wind-down of CPB operations.