After House passes public broadcasting cuts, Lakeshore Public Media focuses on Senate

Chicago Tribune

17-06-2025

Public broadcasting platforms, like Lakeshore Public Media, are looking to the Senate 'as the last hope' to save federal funding, said CEO Chuck Roberts.
The U.S. House voted Thursday to cut about $9.4 billion in spending already approved by Congress targeting foreign aid programs and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which provides money for National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting Service. The vote was 214-212.
Specifically, the bill includes cutting nearly $1.1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which also provides funding for thousands of public radio and television stations around the country. If the Senate approves the cut, that would take away the full amount CPB was slated to receive during the next two budget years.
The benefit for President Donald Trump's administration of a formal rescissions request is that the passage requires only a simple majority in the 100-member Senate instead of the 60 votes usually required to get spending bills through that chamber. So if they stay largely united, Republicans will be able to pass the measure without any Democratic votes.
Leah Selk, a spokeswoman with Republican Senator Todd Young's office said the senator 'continues to have conversations with stakeholders' about the proposed cuts.
'It remains unclear if the Senate will take up the House-passed bill or go a different route,' Selk said.
Senator Jim Banks did not respond to requests for comment.
Roberts said the proposed budget cuts present 'very tenuous times' for Lakeshore Public Media.
'Not only for the organization that is Lakeshore Public Media, but also the many people that will lose the needed services and content across Northwest Indiana and our friends in Illinois, due to state and federal funding cuts,' Roberts said.
In the final hours of the 2025 session, the Indiana legislature passed a biennial budget that cuts funding to all Indiana PBS and NPR stations, Roberts said. Lakeshore Public Media will lose approximately $380,000 per year of the biennial budget, he said, which represents nearly 30% of its annual budget.
If the federal funds are cut, Roberts said Lakeshore Public Media will lose another approximately $560,000, or another 30% of its annual budget, Roberts said.
Lakeshore Public Media has already laid off two-thirds of its staff amid the cuts, Roberts said.
'With the state funding cuts, you will see a reduction in the production of local content and the jobs of some awesome people telling the stories of Northwest Indiana. Federal cuts will have even further consequences for public media in our neighborhoods,' Roberts said.
Indiana Public Broadcasting Stations, which represents the state's 17 PBS and NPR member stations, has been 'closely monitoring' the decisions made in Washington, said IPBS executive director Mark Newman.
'Our focus now shifts to the Senate, where we will continue to work with our partners and policymakers to emphasize the value of this essential public service,' Newman said.
Indiana Public Broadcasting Stations offer news, classroom-ready education content, emergency alerts and cultural programming, Newman said. If the federal cuts are implemented, that would impact support to local station operations, especially in rural and underserved communities, he said.
'Federal support makes it possible for stations to extend their reach, deepen their journalism, and build programs that reflect the people and stories of Indiana,' Newman said. 'We will continue engaging with stakeholders at every level to ensure the critical role of public media is understood and preserved.'