Public opinion overwhelmingly rejects reductions in support for public broadcasting, according to a recent CPB survey.
The U.S. Senate is set to vote on the Rescissions Act of 2025, which proposes to defund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) by revoking $1.1 billion in previously allocated funds, potentially impacting entities like NPR and PBS. This move is part of a broader $9.4 billion package aimed at rescinding government spending, with the primary focus being on foreign aid cuts, but also targeting public broadcasting and other programs.
The White House claims that the public media system is politically biased and an unnecessary expense. However, a new national survey by Peak Insights found that 53% of U.S. voters oppose eliminating all federal funding for public media. The poll, conducted online from June 29-July 1 and involving 1,000 "likely voters," also revealed that voters highly value public media's core services and programming.
Patricia Harrison, CPB president and CEO, stated that public media is a trusted, vital part of American life, providing early learning resources, life-saving emergency alerts, and trusted local and national programming. The survey reports that voters more widely trust public media compared with media in general when it comes to reporting the news "fully, accurately, and fairly."
The survey results show that 65% of respondents hold a favorable opinion of local public television and radio stations, and 61% of surveyed voters hold a favorable opinion of PBS. Moreover, 68% of respondents believe public media serves as a lifeline for rural and underserved communities, while 66% believe it provides quality educational programming for children.
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private, nonprofit corporation authorized by Congress in 1967, helps support the operations of approximately 1,500 locally-managed and operated public television and radio stations. Federal funding drives CPB's commitment to serving the American public and continually strengthening efforts to deepen trust and fulfill the mission envisioned by Congress through the content and services provided by local stations.
The survey also found that voters highly value public media's core services and programming, such as emergency alerts (82%), children's educational programming (66%), local programming (66%), and national news reporting (60%). Meanwhile, 62% of respondents believe public media should remain available free of charge.
As the Senate prepares to vote on the Rescissions Act of 2025, public sentiment appears largely supportive of continuing federal funding to public broadcasting, reflecting a trust and appreciation for its programming among voters. Some Senate Republicans have expressed concerns about the lack of transparency regarding what specific programs will be cut under the rescissions package.
- Voters highly value the core services and programming provided by public media, such as emergency alerts, children's educational programming, local programming, and national news reporting, according to a recent survey.
- In contrast to the White House's claim, a national survey by Peak Insights found that 53% of U.S. voters oppose eliminating all federal funding for public media, indicating a strong support for public broadcasting.
- As the Senate prepares to vote on the Rescissions Act of 2025, some Senate Republicans have expressed concerns about the lack of transparency regarding what specific programs might be cut under the rescissions package, potentially impacting entities like NPR and PBS.
