NPR sues Trump administration over executive order to cut finding to public media
May 27, 2025, 6:16 AM
FILE - The headquarters for National Public Radio (NPR) is seen in Washington, April 15, 2013. AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, File)
Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS
(NPR)
WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� National Public Radio and three local stations filed a lawsuit Tuesday against President Donald Trump, arguing that an executive order aimed at cutting federal funding for the organization is illegal.
The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Washington by NPR, Colorado Public Radio, Aspen Public Radio and KUTE, Inc. argues that Trump鈥檚 executive order to slash public subsidies to PBS and NPR violates the First Amendment.
Trump issued the executive order earlier this month that instructs the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and other federal agencies 鈥渢o cease Federal funding for NPR and PBS鈥� and requires that they work to root out indirect sources of public financing for the news organizations. Trump issued the order after alleging there is 鈥渂ias鈥� in the broadcasters鈥� reporting.
鈥淭he Order鈥檚 objectives could not be clearer: the Order aims to punish NPR for the content of news and other programming the President dislikes and chill the free exercise of First Amendment rights by NPR and individual public radio stations across the country,鈥� the lawsuit alleges.
鈥淭he Order is textbook retaliation and viewpoint-based discrimination in violation of the First Amendment, and it interferes with NPR鈥檚 and the Local Member Stations鈥� freedom of expressive association and editorial discretion,” it said.
