NPR is suing Trump and says his executive order to cut funding for a network of 246 stations is based on authority he doesn’t have
New York (AP) – National Public Radio and three of its local stations sued the presidentDonald TrumpOn Tuesday, he insisted it.Funds to reduce presidential ordersThe 246-Station Network is violating freedom of speech and relies on authorities he does not have.
Earlier this month, Trump directed the company to suspend NPR and PBS funds, either directly or indirectly, for public broadcasting and federal agencies. The president and his supporters argue that their news coverage promotes liberal bias and should not be supported by taxpayers.
The lawsuit argues that retaliation is Trump’s obvious purpose. Three entities in Colorado with NPR and Colorado in federal courts in Washington – Colorado Public Radio, Aspen Public Radio, Kute, Inc. was submitted by.
“Based on the directive based on the content of NPR’s programming, the executive order is trying to force NPR to adapt journalistic standards and editorial choices to government preferences in order to continue receiving federal funds,” NPR CEO Katherine Maher said Tuesday.
Trump says he is targeting private nonprofits, according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit alleges that Trump is acting in a violation of the corporation for public broadcasting. It is a private, non-profit corporation established to distribute federal funds to NPR and PBS, which aims to isolate the system from political interference. Congress allocated $535 million annually to CPB in 2025, 2026 and 2027.
In response to the lawsuit, White House assistant reporter Harrison Fields said the CPB “creates media to support certain parties on taxpayer dimes,” so Trump was exercising his authority under the law. “The President will be elected with a mandate to ensure efficient use of taxpayer dollars and he will continue to use his legitimate authority to achieve that objective,” Fields said.
Trump has not hidden his feelings about NPR, calling him a “liberal disinformation machine” in a social media post in April.
The heads of NPR and PBS appeared to be pre-determined.Both responded to Trump’s moves.Earlier this month, in a statement that they believed it was illegal. The absence of PBS from Tuesday’s filing indicates that the two systems will challenge this individually. PBS has not yet gone to court, but it may soon be.
“PBS will consider all options, including taking legal action, allowing organizations to continue providing essential programming and services to member stations and all Americans,” PBS spokesman Jeremy Gaines said Tuesday.
Trump is in other legal disputes with news organizations
The president’s attempt to dismantle government-run news sourcesAmerican voiceandRadio Free Europe/Radio LibertyIt also sparked a fight in court.
The administration fought with the press on several fronts. The Federal Communications Commission is investigating ABC, CBS and NBC News. Associated PressI went to courtAfter the administration restricted access to certain events in response to an organization’s decision not to change its name as ordered the Gulf of Mexico Bay.
The lawsuit states that 11% of Aspen Public Radio’s budget is provided by the company for public broadcasting. It’s 6% of the 19% of the Colorado Public Radio, a network of 19 stations, and Coot’s budget. The station was founded in 1976 by the Southern Ute Indian Tribes.
NPR notes that the order is about to ban individual stations in NPR’s system from using federal funds to purchase “all things that are all considered,” the country’s most listened to afternoon radio news program, its early counterpart, “Morning Edition,” and cultural programming.Small desk concert.
The order “directly interferes with the editorial independence by requiring programming elsewhere,” the lawsuit said.
NPR says it will provide infrastructure services to hundreds of public radio stations, without which the coverage area will be reduced. It also provides the backbone of emergency alert systems across the country.
“Public broadcasting is the irreplaceable foundation of American civic life,” Maher said. “At the best, it brings our nation back to itself in all our complexities, contradictions and commonalities, and connects our communities beyond differences and divisions.”
This story was originally introduced Fortune.com