President Trump’s first recission package marks a critical step toward restoring the nation’s fiscal health. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) identified billions of dollars in waste, fraud and abuse of taxpayer dollars. By using the rescissions process to target unobligated funds, the President is empowering Congress to eliminate wasteful spending and secure meaningful savings.
A clear example of the kind of wasteful funding that President Trump is targeting in his rescissions package can be found in the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CFPB) which provides support for the National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS).
Appropriations in Advance
The CFPB receives advanced appropriations that grant funding two fiscal years in advance. This is the only program to receive two-year advanced appropriations and is one of only eleven programs to receive advanced appropriations at all. Most advanced appropriations deal with veterans’ health care or special education. The CFPB does not fit within these special categories. Under the continuing resolution, Congress appropriated $535 million to the CPB for fiscal year 2027. The President’s rescissions package proposes clawing back $1.1 billion in funds from both of those fiscal years.
CFPB Isn’t the Only Show in Town
The original justification for CFPB funding was to produce educational and artistic content for adults and children who otherwise lacked access. But that argument no longer applies. Unlike when PBS and NPR were founded, American families today have a wide array of options for accessing similar content. With the widespread availability of the internet and commercial radio stations, nearly every household can stream free educational and artistic programming from countless services including websites, YouTube, streaming services, etc.
Sponsored But Still Subsidized
Even traditional PBS favorites such as Sesame Street no longer rely on federal appropriations as their primary source of funding. Instead, the program now depends primarily on streaming partnerships (formerly HBO and now Netflix) and merchandise sales.
As for NPR, while it does not receive direct subsidies from the CFPB, the CFPB does fund local stations, which in turn fund NPR programs. NPR could easily transition to a self-funded model and continue broadcasting without requiring taxpayer dollars.
Propaganda Doesn’t Deserve Public Funds
As a final nail in the coffin, both PBS and NPR have increasingly produced politically biased content, undermining their claim to neutrality and the public trust that once justified their funding. Instead of maintaining their mission to produce neutral content with taxpayer dollars, PBS and NPR have focused more and more on politically charged content and violated public trust.
For example, the official Sesame Street Twitter account recently posted a “Happy Pride Month” message, drawing criticism from many parents. PBS NewsHour routinely features more liberal than conservative voices, and studies show Congressional Republicans receive 85% more negative coverage than Democrats. In August 2020, NPR aired an interview promoting the book In Defense of Looting, which justified lawless behavior during riots. Taxpayer dollars should not fund outlets that push partisan narratives and consistently violate their mission of unbiased public service.
Rescissions Bring a Reckoning
In today’s media-rich environment, there’s no justification for continuing to subsidize NPR and PBS with taxpayer dollars. These outlets no longer serve a unique public need, often promote a liberal agenda, and already benefit from ample private funding. At a time of record debt, it’s time for Congress to end this wasteful spending by putting together a rescissions bill cutting funding for NPR and PBS.
