Mathias Busekist
They are accusing Donald Trump of violating the first amendment.
National Public Radio (NPR) has filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration, accusing President Donald Trump of violating the First Amendment by attempting to defund public media in a move the organization describes as unconstitutional and politically motivated.
The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., challenges a May 1 executive order issued by Trump directing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) to cease funding NPR and its television counterpart, PBS. The legal action asserts that the president’s directive disregards congressional authority and infringes on core constitutional protections.
“This is a clear violation of the Constitution,” NPR stated in the filing, adding that the order “contravenes the expressed will of Congress and undermines the First Amendment’s guarantees of freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and freedom of association.”
Several NPR member stations in Colorado joined the suit, underscoring the impact of the funding threat on local public broadcasting and community access to information.
The CPB, a private nonprofit corporation designed to operate independently of political influence, distributes approximately $535 million annually to public radio and television stations, as well as to producers of educational and cultural content. These stations, in turn, offer free and universal access to news, public safety information, and diverse programming nationwide.
NPR’s lawsuit warns that the executive order “threatens the existence of a public radio system that millions of Americans across the country rely on for vital news and information.”
The administration’s move has triggered a broader backlash in the public media landscape. The CPB has filed its own legal challenge after Trump attempted to remove three of its board members. PBS, while not yet taking formal legal action, has indicated it is exploring all available options.
“PBS is considering every option, including taking legal action, to allow our organization to continue to provide essential programming and services to member stations and all Americans,” a PBS spokesperson said.
Although Trump signed a funding bill earlier this year that included support for public broadcasting, his executive order seeks to override that legislation. The president has long accused NPR and PBS of political bias, renewing his earlier claims that the networks are “spreading radical, woke propaganda disguised as ‘news.’”
During his first term, Trump repeatedly attempted to eliminate funding for public media, efforts that were ultimately blocked by Congress. Now in his second term, the president is pursuing more aggressive legal and administrative tactics to defund the institutions.