Senate approves cuts to NPR, PBS and foreign aid programs

The Senate has approved the Trump administration’s $9 billion rescission package aimed at clawing back money already allocated for public radio and television — a major step toward winding down nearly six decades of federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

CPB stands to lose $1.1 billion meant to fund it through the next two years, while the bill also cuts $7.9 billion in other programs. CPB acts as a conduit for federal money to NPR, PBS and their member stations.

In a marathon “vote-a-rama” session that lasted into the small hours Thursday, senators introduce numerous amendments, before ultimately voting 51-to-48 to approve the package that includes cuts to foreign food and health programs. One senator, Minnesota’s Tina Smith, was not present at the vote due to hospitalization.

The Senate’s approval tees up a final showdown in the House, which approved an earlier version last month.

The Senate vote was largely along party lines, with Democrats voting against the bill and all but two Republicans voting for it. The GOP exceptions were Maine’s Susan Collins and Alaska’s Lisa Murkowski. Kentucky Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell, who voted on Tuesday not to advance debate on the bill, prompting Vice President JD Vance to cast a tie-breaking vote, nonetheless approved the final measure.

In a statement immediately after the vote, NPR said: “Nearly 3-in-4 Americans say they rely on their public radio stations for alerts and news for their public safety,” adding, “We call on the House of Representatives to reject this elimination of public media funding, which directly harms their communities and constituents, and could very well place lives at risk.”

Wisconsin Democrat Sen. Tammy Baldwin said that if the cuts to public broadcasting stand, “local television and radio stations will shut down — and it will be rural stations that will be the first to close.”

“These issues were not even raised as a part of our appropriation process during the past two years,” Baldwin said. “So to take this extraordinary step and say that these issues are now so grave and so urgent that we have to address them like this — what are we doing here?”

Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, speaking against the motion, said public broadcasting “has long been overtaken by partisan activists. Plain and simple.”

“NPR and PBS have revealed their left-wing bias time and time again,” he said. “If you want to watch the left-wing propaganda, turn on MSNBC. But the taxpayers should not be forced to subsidize it.”

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-SD, noted that the U.S. is $36 trillion in debt. “What we are talking about here is 1/10 of 1% of all federal spending,” he said. “But it’s a step in the right direction.”

The White House sent the request to Congress in early June — the first such rescission in more than a quarter century. The House quickly passed it and the chamber is expected to approve the changes made by the Senate before a midnight Friday deadline. The deadline marks 45 days since President Trump sent the rescission request to Congress by which time lawmakers are required by law to either affirm the cuts or do nothing and allow the money to be restored.

Trump and GOP lawmakers have stepped up attacks on public broadcasting since the election, with the president writing on his social media platform this week that “any Republican that votes to allow this monstrosity to continue broadcasting will not have my support or Endorsement.”

The White House called for an end to federal funding for NPR and PBS in April, claiming that they "spread radical, woke propaganda disguised as 'news.'" Trump also fired the CPB's three Democratic board members, who refused to leave their posts. Trump sued them this week in an attempt to force them out.

In April, NPR CEO Katherine Maher and PBS CEO and President Paula Kerger testified on Capitol Hill before the House subcommittee on government efficiency chaired by Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. The executives defended public media against charges of political bias, but Greene concluded the hearing by saying: “We believe that you all can hate us on your own dime.”

But in a letter to Rounds, Native Public Radio President and CEO Loris Taylor called the compromise “structurally impractical,” adding that while the network appreciates the efforts to sustain Tribal media, “The Green New Deal is primarily a framework for climate and economic reform, not a dedicated funding source for communications infrastructure or media services.”

America's Public Television Stations, a membership group representing public stations, said it is "devastated that the Senate voted to eliminate federal funding to the local public television stations throughout this country... This elimination of federal funding will decimate public media and put local stations at risk of going dark, cutting off service to communities that rely on them—many of which have no other access to locally controlled media."

Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) talked about the funding's impact on emergency alerts in a speech from the Senate floor. Stations "running on backup generators are built to broadcast through disasters" and can send alerts even when people don't have Internet access, she said. Cantwell said that PBS WARN works "when everything else goes dark... ensuring that warnings about tornadoes, fires, floods and evacuations reach your cell phone in seconds."

As the Corporation for Public Broadcasting explains, "PBS WARN enables all public television stations to send WEAs [Wireless Emergency Alerts] out over their transmitters to provide a 'hardened, redundant' alternate path for the cellular companies' connection. Between January 1 and December 31, 2024, more than 11,000 WEAs issued by federal, state, and local authorities were transmitted over the PBS WARN system, a 30 percent increase over 2023. Public television stations save lives in their communities, even those who might never turn on a television."

NPR manages the Public Radio Satellite System, which "receives a national Emergency Alert System feed directly from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to send Presidential emergency alerts to local public radio stations," the CPB said.

NPR CEO Katherine Maher issued a statement, pointing to an NPR-commissioned survey which found that over 75 percent of Republicans and Democrats rely on public radio emergency alerts and news for public safety. "We call on the House of Representatives to reject this elimination of public media funding, which directly harms their communities and constituents, and could very well place lives at risk," Maher said.

The Senate recently passed a bill that would decimate public media, clawing back roughly $1.1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which helps fund NPR and PBS. The bill, which contains a total of $9 billion in spending cuts, now goes to the House. This is not the first time the government has tried to cut funding to public broadcasting. In 1969, Fred Rogers, the creator and host of "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood," testified before the US Senate Subcommittee on Communications to defend the continued funding of public broadcasting after President Richard Nixon proposed cuts.

As the saying goes, history has a way of repeating itself.

In 1969, President Richard Nixon and the Republican party put proposed a plan in Congress to slash funding for public broadcasting from $20 million down to $10 million.

At the time, Rogers was the host of the beloved show, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, a children’s program devoted to helping kids understand and express their feelings.

With public media on the chopping block, he headed to Congress armed with his cardigan, his kindness, and a passionate conviction for his work and delivered what may just be the most soft-spoken mic drop in congressional history.

Fascists hate empathy and will always attack it, by insulting it or making fun of it.

Back in 2020, Trump campaign senior adviser Mercedes Schlapp sought to insult Joe Biden’s ABC News town hall by comparing it to “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” which critics saw as an endorsement for the Democratic presidential nominee.

Schlapp quoted a tweet from Fox News host Greg Gutfeld that criticized the simultaneous event for President Donald Trump on NBC News. Schlapp added in her own tweet that Biden’s town hall was akin to watching an episode of the beloved children’s show.

Mr. Rogers taught us all that kindness is one of the most important things a human being can possess. So it is not surprising that the Trump campaign thought comparing someone to Fred Rogers was an insult.

The GOP is evil.

Sources:

Senate votes to kill entire public broadcasting budget in blow to NPR and PBS
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/07/senate-votes-to-kill-entire-public-broadcasting-budget-in-blow-to-npr-and-pbs/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned

Senate approves cuts to NPR, PBS and foreign aid programs
https://www.opb.org/article/2025/07/17/rescission-package-public-media/

Roll Call Vote 119th Congress - 1st Session
https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1191/vote_119_1_00411.htm

Fred Rogers testifies before the Senate Subcommittee on Communications 1969 (YouTube)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6wSjINly88

Trump Adviser's Head-Scratching Attempt To Trash Biden Backfires
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-aide-compares-biden-to-mister-rogers_n_5f88ff31c5b6dc2d17f55796

-
-

Previous Posts:

Project 2025 Tracker
https://imgur.com/gallery/project-2025-tracker-29SlJ0Q

Letter urging residents to report 'brown folks' condemned by Oregon officials.
https://imgur.com/gallery/letter-urging-residents-to-report-brown-folks-condemned-by-oregon-officials-HKcaAio

The entire archive of all CDC datasets uploaded before January 28th, 2025 has been backed up on Internet Archive.
https://imgur.com/gallery/entire-archive-of-all-cdc-datasets-uploaded-before-january-28th-2025-has-been-backed-up-on-internet-archive-https-archive-org-details-20250128-cdc-datasets-E7Ha5pP

Elon Deletes Free Tax Program And His Fans Are Baffled.
https://imgur.com/gallery/elon-deletes-free-tax-program-his-fans-are-baffled-n97l8Gl

Federal health workers terrified after 'DEI' website publishes list of 'targets'.
https://imgur.com/gallery/federal-health-workers-terrified-after-dei-website-publishes-list-of-targets-Z5aOyPh

Australian Senator Nick McKim Calls Out US's Descent Into Fascism and Trump to create religious office in White House, target 'anti-Christian bias'.
https://imgur.com/gallery/australian-senator-nick-mckim-calls-out-uss-descent-into-fascism-trump-to-create-religious-office-white-house-target-anti-christian-bias-gH8hZd1

White House Orders Consumer Protection Agency Shutdown.
https://imgur.com/gallery/white-house-orders-consumer-protection-agency-shutdown-JeQGJLY

Court Blocks U.S. From Sending 3 Venezuelan Migrants to Guantánamo.
https://imgur.com/gallery/court-blocks-u-s-from-sending-3-venezuelan-migrants-to-guant-namo-mng1NDq

Vance Says ‘Judges Aren’t Allowed to Control’ Trump’s ‘Legitimate Power’
https://imgur.com/gallery/vance-says-judges-aren-t-allowed-to-control-trump-s-legitimate-power-XuMHTPa

‘Border Czar’ Doubles Down on Asking if DOJ Should Prosecute AOC for Informing Immigrants of Their Rights
https://imgur.com/gallery/border-czar-doubles-down-on-asking-if-doj-should-prosecute-aoc-informing-immigrants-of-rights-C58OJsi

ICE Prosecutor in Dallas Runs White Supremacist X Account
https://imgur.com/gallery/ice-prosecutor-dallas-runs-white-supremacist-x-account-bJHMwgJ

Montana Bill Would Charge Women for 'Trafficking' Their Own Fetus
https://imgur.com/gallery/montana-bill-would-charge-women-trafficking-own-fetus-FiV1Ybl

Andrew Tate Reportedly On Plane To U.S. After Trump Administration Backed MAGA-Loving Influencer
https://imgur.com/gallery/andrew-tate-reportedly-on-plane-to-u-s-after-trump-administration-backed-maga-loving-influencer-mv2F7uz

RFK Jr. Takes a Sledgehammer to Two Major Vaccine Developments
https://imgur.com/gallery/rfk-jr-takes-sledgehammer-to-two-major-vaccine-developments-mR6EOtP

NOAA begins firing hundreds of staffers
https://imgur.com/gallery/just-time-hurricane-season-naVhzdf

"Digital Content Refresh" or what is really is, History Erased.
https://imgur.com/gallery/digital-content-refresh-what-is-really-is-history-erased-CcEncKS

The Sin of Empathy
https://imgur.com/gallery/sin-of-empathy-dmPEf3A

Introducing the idea of removing due process.
https://imgur.com/gallery/introducing-idea-of-removing-due-process-d0WCJGE

There is no Greater Love like Christian Hate.
https://imgur.com/gallery/there-is-no-greater-love-like-christian-hate-mHS6HHD

DOGE accesses federal payroll system and punishes employees who objected.
https://imgur.com/gallery/doge-accesses-federal-payroll-system-punishes-employees-who-objected-OWE7w09

Trump signs sweeping new global tariffs
https://imgur.com/gallery/trump-signs-sweeping-new-global-tariffs-04x55ys

Justice Dept. Lawyer Who Criticized Administration in Court Is Put on Leave
https://imgur.com/gallery/justice-dept-lawyer-who-criticized-administration-court-is-put-on-leave-6iUW4xI

Woman's arrest after miscarriage in Georgia draws fear and anger
https://imgur.com/gallery/womans-arrest-after-miscarriage-georgia-draws-fear-anger-nxeIeCG

Another GOP representative calling for violence.
https://imgur.com/gallery/another-gop-representative-calling-violence-L0EKn19

"Fuck You", Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo says to social media critics in leaked audio.
https://imgur.com/gallery/you-nevada-gov-joe-lombardo-says-to-social-media-critics-leaked-audio-bcygve4

Attorney representing a student protester detained by federal immigration agents
https://imgur.com/gallery/attorney-representing-student-protester-detained-by-federal-immigration-agents-HAUTdIa

RFK Jr. Is Using a New Study on Autisms to Push His Anti-Vaccine Agenda
https://imgur.com/gallery/rfk-jr-is-using-new-study-on-autisms-to-push-his-anti-vaccine-agenda-rWZEl3T

FDA making plans to end its routine food safety inspections, sources say
https://imgur.com/gallery/fda-making-plans-to-end-its-routine-food-safety-inspections-sources-say-uzLn6xL

Maryland Sen. Van Hollen Meets With Abrego Garcia In El Salvador Amid Court Fight Over U.S. Return
https://imgur.com/gallery/maryland-sen-van-hollen-meets-with-abrego-garcia-el-salvador-amid-court-fight-over-u-s-return-PKdC0Z1

American Citizens receive email from the Department of Homeland Security telling them to leave the U.S. “immediately” because their “parole” was terminated.
https://imgur.com/gallery/american-citizens-receive-email-from-department-of-homeland-security-telling-them-to-leave-u-s-immediately-because-parole-was-terminated-GLF7oWW

COVID Government website (covid.gov) now redirects to https://www.whitehouse.gov/lab-leak-true-origins-of-covid-19/
https://imgur.com/gallery/covid-government-website-covid-gov-now-redirects-to-https-www-whitehouse-gov-lab-leak-true-origins-of-covid-19-3Lbt3p4

United pilot attacked passenger for taking too long in the bathroom, lawsuit alleges.
https://imgur.com/gallery/united-pilot-attacked-passenger-taking-too-long-bathroom-lawsuit-alleges-cv2Srwa

Judge Hannah Dugan arrested by FBI for allegedly helping undocumented immigrant 'evade arrest'
https://imgur.com/gallery/judge-hannah-dugan-arrested-by-fbi-allegedly-helping-undocumented-immigrant-evade-arrest-lPRMaLY

SOS: Migrants held in Texas fear notorious El Salvador prison
https://imgur.com/gallery/sos-migrants-held-texas-fear-notorious-el-salvador-prison-i2taqop

The Justice Department ended a decades-old school desegregation order. Others are expected to fall.
https://imgur.com/gallery/justice-department-ended-decades-old-school-desegregation-order-others-are-expected-to-fall-5cfiaX3

Brain-dead woman must carry fetus to birth because of Georgia’s abortion ban, hospital tells family.
https://imgur.com/gallery/brain-dead-woman-must-carry-fetus-to-birth-because-of-georgia-s-abortion-ban-hospital-tells-family-KfoGGea

RFK Jr. Says He's Exploring A Crackdown On This Perfectly Safe Medication
https://imgur.com/gallery/rfk-jr-says-hes-exploring-crackdown-on-this-perfectly-safe-medication-h7rS1I4

RFK Jr. says he may bar scientists from publishing in top medical journals
https://imgur.com/gallery/rfk-jr-says-he-may-bar-scientists-from-publishing-top-medical-journals-LtDIG4O

FEMA staff confused after head said he was unaware of US hurricane season, sources say.
https://imgur.com/gallery/fema-staff-confused-after-head-said-he-was-unaware-of-us-hurricane-season-sources-say-7qRcGEa

South Florida meteorologist warns viewers NWS staff shortages will impact his hurricane forecasts
https://imgur.com/gallery/south-florida-meteorologist-warns-viewers-nws-staff-shortages-will-impact-his-hurricane-forecasts-7ixXB3R

Anti-vaccine advocate RFK Jr. fires entire CDC panel of vaccine advisors
https://imgur.com/gallery/anti-vaccine-advocate-rfk-jr-fires-entire-cdc-panel-of-vaccine-advisors-CGrFtFV

Scientific American is republishing an article on How Not To Be Killed By The Police from 2020.
https://imgur.com/gallery/scientific-american-is-republishing-article-on-how-not-to-be-killed-by-police-from-2020-jiA3jRC

The Onion doing the work of “the media”.
https://imgur.com/gallery/onion-doing-work-of-media-RDqr2n5

Grok praises Hitler, gives credit to Musk for removing “woke filters”
https://imgur.com/gallery/grok-praises-hitler-gives-credit-to-musk-removing-woke-filters-tZ1pWBl

DHS is urging law enforcement to treat even skateboarding and livestreaming as signs of violent intent during a protest, turning everyday behavior into a pretext for police action.
https://imgur.com/gallery/dhs-is-urging-law-enforcement-to-treat-even-skateboarding-livestreaming-as-signs-of-violent-intent-during-protest-turning-everyday-behavior-into-pretext-police-action-6w5VmBG

Pennsylvania man gets life in prison after murdering his federal government employee father, decapitating him and brandishing the severed head in an online video that called for the execution of other civil servants.
https://imgur.com/gallery/pennsylvania-man-gets-life-prison-after-murdering-his-federal-government-employee-father-decapitating-him-brandishing-severed-head-online-video-that-called-execution-of-other-civil-servants-XnA7UGZ