The Corporation for Public Broadcasting will shut down next month after Congress slashed more than $1 billion appropriated for the organization.
In a message to employees Friday, the organization said that it will eliminate the majority of positions on Tuesday, September 30th. A small team will continue with the company through January.
“Despite the extraordinary efforts of millions of Americans who called, wrote, and petitioned Congress to preserve federal funding for CPB, we now face the difficult reality of closing our operations,” President and CEO Patricia Harrison said in a statement. “CPB remains committed to fulfilling its fiduciary responsibilities and supporting our partners through this transition with transparency and care.”
“Public media has been one of the most trusted institutions in American life, providing educational opportunity, emergency alerts, civil discourse, and cultural connection to every corner of the country,” she continued. “We are deeply grateful to our partners across the system for their resilience, leadership, and unwavering dedication to serving the American people.”
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting was created by Congress in 1967 as a non-profit organization. Its main goal is to maintain funds used to operate public radio and television stations around the country.
In a vote last month, the Senate passed $9 billion in federal spending cuts. Those cuts included more than $1 billion in reductions to NPR and PBS.
The passed legislation would remove $1.1 billion in funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. That figure represents what the CPB was slated to receive over the next two budget years.
The vote to pass the cuts was split largely along party lines. Those voting against the move included all Senate Democrats, who were joined by Republican Sens. Susan Collins (ME) and Lisa Murkowski (AK).
Roughly 100 employees work at the Corporation. The CPB estimates that 70% of its funding goes to local stations, not national outlets. Advocates for the organization have pointed to high favorability among the general public as a reason why it should remain.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.
