Former Labor Secretary Robert Reich criticized the Senate’s approval of a $1.1 billion cut to public broadcasting, saying it’s part of a broader effort by President Donald Trump to undermine independent media.
“Why is Trump so hell-bent on gutting funds for PBS and NPR?” Reich posted on X.
“It’s part of a larger plan — one where he can control not just what we do, but what we think.”
Senate Approves Bill to Slash Public Media Funding
The Senate narrowly passed the Trump administration’s $9 billion rescission package early Thursday morning in a 51-48 vote, mostly along party lines.
The package includes $1.1 billion in cuts to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which helps fund NPR, PBS, and over 1,300 member stations across the country.
The House is expected to vote on the final version of the bill before a midnight Friday deadline.
Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska pushed for an amendment that would have restored public media funding while blocking direct funds to NPR.
She emphasized how essential local stations are in emergencies, noting a recent tsunami alert in Alaska where a small station broadcast life-saving messages.
“We’re reminded today this stuff matters,” Murkowski said. Her amendment was rejected.
Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-W) warned that if the cuts go through, “local television and radio stations will shut down — and it will be rural stations that will be the first to close.”
Public Media Leaders Sound the Alarm
NPR CEO Katherine Maher issued a statement saying, “Nearly 3-in-4 Americans say they rely on their public radio stations for alerts and news for their public safety.”
She urged the House to reject the cuts, arguing they could “place lives at risk.”
Kate Riley, president and CEO of America’s Public Television Stations, called the vote “devastating,” saying it jeopardizes public TV’s ability to deliver free educational content, emergency alerts, and community programming.
Sharp Divides and Political Pressure
The White House first sent the request to Congress in June. Since then, Trump has ramped up his attacks on NPR and PBS.
On his social media platform, he warned that any Republican who votes to keep funding them “will not have my support or Endorsement.”
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) said public broadcasting “has long been overtaken by partisan activists” and argued, “The taxpayers should not be forced to subsidize it.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) defended the cuts as modest, saying, “What we are talking about here is 1/10 of 1% of all federal spending. But it’s a step in the right direction.”
Still, polling shows strong public support for public broadcasting. A Harris Poll conducted for NPR found that 66% of Americans support federal funding for public radio, including 58% of Republicans and 77% of Democrats.
Critics say cutting these funds outside of the normal budget process threatens bipartisan cooperation.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) called the rescission package “an affront to the bipartisan appropriations process.”
OMB Director Russ Vought said more cuts could be coming. “There is still a great enthusiasm for these rescission bills,” he said.
As the House prepares to vote, public media advocates continue urging lawmakers to preserve funding for outlets that serve as critical lifelines in underserved communities.
Reich’s warning reflects a larger concern: that the push to defund public media isn’t just about budgets, it’s about controlling the conversation.
IMAGE CREDIT: “Robert Reich” by Albaum, CC0 1.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Image adjusted for layout.