Trump move to bar funding for NPR, PBS stopped by court

Trump Move to Bar Funding for NPR, PBS Stopped by Court

A federal judge has intervened to prevent the Trump administration from cutting funding to National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). The order, issued by US District Judge Randolph Moss, declared President Donald Trump’s May executive directive unlawful. This directive had instructed the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to stop financial support for these media organizations, directly or indirectly.

Meanwhile, an appellate panel temporarily halted a court order requiring the Trump administration to recall Voice of America (VOA) employees from unpaid leave. US District Court Judge Royce C. Lamberth had previously ruled that the agency’s decision to place more VOA staff on leave was invalid. The appeals court’s action paused the implementation of that ruling, leaving the status of the employees uncertain.

Legal Challenges to Executive Orders

Judge Moss emphasized that Trump’s 2025 executive order conflicted with the First Amendment. In his ruling, he stated,

“It is difficult to conceive of clearer evidence that a government action is targeted at viewpoints that the President does not like and seeks to squelch.”

This criticism followed the president’s July package, which canceled approximately $1.1 billion in allocated funds for public broadcasting. The financial impact remains unclear as the decision is expected to face further legal challenges.

White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson described Moss’ ruling as

“a ridiculous ruling by an activist judge attempting to undermine the law.”

She defended the administration’s actions, arguing that the media’s reporting skewed toward liberal perspectives and should not be subsidized by public funds. However, the court’s intervention highlights ongoing disputes over the role of government in supporting independent journalism.