NPR Sues Trump Administration Over Federal Funding Cuts

Tone & Political Bias: Moderately Left-Leaning

Why: The article emphasizes constitutional concerns and prominently features NPR’s viewpoint while providing a limited defense of the Trump administration's rationale.

Executive Order Targets Public Broadcasting

On May 1, 2025, President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14290, directing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) to stop all federal funding to National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). The order accused both media organizations of spreading “biased and partisan” content and stated that taxpayer money should not be used to fund such platforms.

The CPB, which is a nonprofit created by Congress in 1967 to support public broadcasting, argued that it operates independently and that the executive order exceeds presidential authority.

NPR and Member Stations File Lawsuit

On May 27, 2025, NPR, along with three public radio stations from Colorado—Aspen Public Radio, Colorado Public Radio, and KSUT—filed a federal lawsuit challenging the executive order. The plaintiffs claim that the order violates:

The First Amendment by retaliating against protected journalistic speech
The Fifth Amendment’s due process clause
Congress’s constitutional power over federal spending

NPR President and CEO Katherine Maher stated that the executive order directly undermines constitutional protections for press freedom and association.

Legal Representation and Arguments

NPR’s lawsuit is being led by attorneys Theodore J. Boutrous Jr. and Miguel A. Estrada from the law firm Gibson Dunn. Boutrous is known for his involvement in previous high-profile First Amendment cases, including a 2018 lawsuit involving CNN reporter Jim Acosta.

The legal team argues that the order is a clear act of retaliation for unfavorable coverage and is part of a broader attempt to intimidate media outlets. They state that such actions threaten the independent role of public broadcasting in a democratic society.

White House Justification

The Trump administration defends the order by saying it aims to ensure that public funds are not used to support partisan content. According to the White House, the CPB is allegedly funding media that favors a specific political ideology.

White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Harrison Fields said that CPB is creating media content that serves a political agenda. Supporters of the administration, including Republican Senator Tom Cotton, have echoed similar views, describing NPR as a “liberal propaganda network” that should not be funded with taxpayer dollars.

Potential Impact on Public Media

While NPR receives only about 1% of its funding directly from the CPB and PBS receives roughly 15%, the executive order could affect local stations that depend more heavily on federal funds. The CPB provides support to more than 1,500 public radio and television stations, many of which serve rural and underserved areas.

The lawsuit stresses that removing this funding could cut off access to educational content, emergency broadcasts, and public interest programming in communities where few media alternatives exist.

Broader Context and Reactions

The lawsuit is one of several legal confrontations between the Trump administration and public institutions over funding and alleged ideological bias. In April 2025, the CPB filed a separate lawsuit after Trump attempted to remove three board members, asserting it was an illegal interference in the organization’s independence.

Although PBS has not joined NPR’s lawsuit, it is reportedly evaluating legal options. PBS President Paula Kerger has called the executive order “blatantly unlawful.”

This legal dispute may shape future decisions about the limits of presidential power over independent media and the role of federal funding in maintaining access to non-commercial broadcasting across the country.