Public broadcasters in the USA have achieved a largely symbolic victory in their funding dispute with Donald Trump.
Apr 01, 2026, 07:40Apr 01, 2026, 07:40
A judge in the capital Washington ruled that the US President was not entitled to issue an executive order to withdraw state subsidies from the broadcasters NPR and PBS last year. The reasoning made it clear that the reason for the withdrawal of funds was dissatisfaction with the reporting – and that was a violation of the freedom of expression enshrined in the constitution.
Anti-cutting protests in Boston in June 2025.Image: keystone
The ruling has no consequences for the current financing of public US broadcasters. After Trump’s decree, Congress decided with the votes of its Republicans to cancel the funds of a billion dollars that had already been budgeted for two years. The judge’s decision could have relevance for funding in the future. However, a White House spokeswoman told the Wall Street Journal that the government expects to ultimately prevail in the legal dispute.
NPR and PBS are largely supported by local broadcast stations and donations. The broadcasting system traditionally also received subsidies from the state via the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). The CPB, founded in 1967, dissolved earlier this year after funding was withdrawn. (sda/dpa)