BELOIT- Today, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which is the nonprofit authorized by Congress to provide federal funds to National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), announced that it will be shutting down at the end of 2025 due to cuts made by Republicans in Congress and President Trump. State Senator Mark Spreitzer (D-Beloit) released the following statement after the announcement:
“For almost 60 years, CPB has provided funding to local public television and radio stations across the country, supporting news and educational programming that Americans have benefitted from like Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood, This American Life, and Frontline. PBS and NPR programming are a touchstone for Wisconsinites of all ages.
“PBS Wisconsin and Wisconsin Public Radio receive approximately 10% of their funding from federal support. That funding has supported emergency broadcasts during severe weather in Wisconsin, news coverage of local government and school sports, and programs like Wisconsin Hometown Stories that brought Wisconsin history to life. The loss of federal support means that homegrown Wisconsin programming will have to be cut.
“President Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans’ shortsighted choice to cut funding for CPB actively undermines the work that public broadcasting has done to educate, inform, and inspire generations of Wisconsinites.”
