Boston (May 2, 2025) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, released the following statement after President Donald Trump issued an executive order last night attempting to direct the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) to cease funding for National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting Service. The Trump administration also today released its budget for fiscal year 2026, which proposes to eliminate all funding for CPB.

“President Trump’s executive order is both illegal and a direct threat to the survival of local public media stations across the country,” said Senator Markey. “These stations are a lifeline for rural and urban communities alike, offering everything from educational children’s programming to life-saving emergency alerts. Eliminating funding for public media punishes free expression and jeopardizes trusted sources of news, culture, and emergency information for communities everywhere. Local stations must have the resources and autonomy to serve their audiences without political interference. I will fight to maintain CPB’s funding and protect the integrity of public broadcasting.”

On April 15, 2025, Senator Markey, along with Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), sent a letter to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Acting Administrator Cameron Hamilton urging the agency to lift its freeze on grants that help improve the resiliency of public broadcasting stations. Less than two weeks later, FEMA lifted the freeze on those funds.

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