U.S. Sen. Luján calls out Trump order on NPR, PBS

Yahoo

02-05-2025

Longtime KUNM volunteer DJ Don McIver pictured hosting the station's afternoon Freeform program (Megan Kamerick/KUNM)
'Unlawful' and 'illegal' is how U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) on Friday described President Donald Trump's May 1 executive order eliminating funding for NPR and PBS.
Entitled 'Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Biased Media,' the order directs the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to cease current and future direct and indirect funding 'consistent with my Administration's policy to ensure that Federal funding does not support biased and partisan news coverage.' It also directs the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services secretary to determine whether PBS or NPR '(or any successor organization)…are complying with the statutory mandate that 'no person shall be subjected to discrimination in employment . . . on the grounds of race, color, religion, national origin, or sex.' In the event of a finding of noncompliance,' the order continues, 'the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall take appropriate corrective action.'
Luján, the ranking member of the Commerce Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Media, said in a statement the 'unlawful' order, signed 'in the dark of night,' will 'strip New Mexicans of vital access to public programming that educates, entertains, and keeps us safe. For decades, NPR and PBS have delivered news, entertainment, and much more to New Mexicans, especially in rural and Tribal communities. Public media, like NPR, PBS, and their local affiliates, provide critical information to New Mexicans in all corners of the state — including during disasters and emergencies when our rural communities rely on public media the most.'
Moreover, Luján's statement noted, 'this illegal executive order is an attempt by President Trump to strip New Mexicans of vital public services that thousands rely on day-to-day. The President is disregarding CPB's authority and working to prevent New Mexicans from accessing free news, educational programming, and emergency alerts. Defunding NPR and PBS will leave New Mexicans in the dark when they need information the most.'
Local NPR affiliate KUNM General Manager Richard Towne, in a statement provided to Source, agreed with Luján's characterization of the order, writing:
'In my view, the EO does not have the legal basis for enforcement. This is because CPB is an independent non-profit corporation, not a government agency. The Public Broadcasting Act of 1967 protects CPB against political meddling through Congressional funding for two years of funding.'
Towne notes that the CPB is currently funded by Congress 'with White House approval' through Sept. 30, 2027, so Trump's executive order bypasses Congress.
Trump's order impacts approximately $540,000 in CPB funding for KUNM over the next two years, he said. For public radio and television together, the impact is more than $11 million over the next two years, he noted, adding: 'This is not chump change.'
New Mexico PBS General Manager and CEO Franz Joachim sent Source a similar comment, also noting that Trump's EO 'is a clear violation of the 1st amendment and the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967, which created the Corporation for Public Broadcasting as a firewall against federal interference how our federal funding is used.' Federal funding of public media, he added, 'is essential and irreplaceable. Government should fund the free distribution of information that saves lives and changes lives.
Towne also shared a letter he received Friday afternoon from CPB President and CEO Patricia Harrison that says while Trump's executive order 'is concerning, we believe it has no effect on CPB, since CPB is not a federal agency subject to the President's authority.' As such, 'CPB will not be adding any additional conditions or restrictions on our Community Service Grants. Payments will continue to go to our grantees per their grant agreements.'
Harrison's letter also noted that a few days prior to the executive order, the Trump administration 'sent emails to three members of CPB's Board of Directors stating they are fired effective immediately. We immediately filed a lawsuit to say the Administration has no authority to terminate any of CPB's board members. A U.S. District Court Judge ruled in favor of holding a hearing on our motion for a temporary restraining order, which seeks to block the president's actions until the case can be fully heard. The hearing is scheduled for May 14.
That being said, Harrison acknowledged rumors that the administration intends to try to pull back $1.1 billion from CPB's forthcoming budget,. The CPB board met Friday to discuss these issues.
'I am proud of the resilience and dedication I have seen across the system,' Harrison's letter concludes. 'Your efforts ensure that public media remains a cornerstone of our shared democracy. Together, we will navigate these challenges, guided by our shared commitment to service, education, and community.'