NPR and Colorado Radio Stations Challenge Trump’s Funding Ban in Court
Updated May 27, 2025 at 10:30 AM EDT
NPR, collaborating with three public radio stations in Colorado, has initiated a legal battle against the Trump administration. The lawsuit, lodged in federal court, disputes the president’s executive order that prevents the allocation of Congressionally approved funds to NPR and PBS. The legal action was filed in the District of Columbia, emphasizing the executive order as a retaliatory move aimed at undermining the First Amendment.
In their legal brief, the public broadcasters argued, “It is not always obvious when the government has acted with a retaliatory purpose in violation of the First Amendment. ‘But this wolf comes as a wolf,'” echoing the words of the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia from his 1988 dissent.
President Trump, along with key administration officials including budget director Russell Vought and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, are named in the lawsuit. NPR President Katherine Maher condemned the order, stating it contravenes constitutional protections for free speech and press freedom.
The executive order, issued on May 1st, directs the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) to cease funding NPR and PBS, accusing the networks of biased reporting. Trump cited examples such as NPR’s alleged failure to cover the Hunter Biden laptop story, as detailed in a White House fact sheet.
NPR and the Colorado stations, which include Colorado Public Radio, Aspen Public Radio, and KSUT, stress the executive order’s threat to public broadcasting relied upon by millions.
While PBS has not joined the lawsuit, it is evaluating potential legal actions. The executive order’s enforcement rests on Trump’s authority as president, although it faces legal challenges due to Congress’s role in CPB funding.
CPB, tasked with distributing over half a billion dollars annually to public broadcasters, has resisted the order. Patricia Harrison, CPB’s CEO, emphasized the organization’s independence from federal direction as per legislative mandate.
The legal confrontation highlights a broader conflict between the Trump administration and public media, with the president previously suing major networks like ABC and CBS over perceived biases.
Despite Trump’s efforts to restrict funding, Congress passed a temporary budget ensuring CPB’s financing through September 2027. The ongoing legal and political disputes underscore the contentious relationship between the administration and public broadcasters.
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