PBS and NPR CEOs Face Hostile House Hearing Over Federal Funding

WASHINGTON, D.C. — PBS and NPR executives are set to testify before a House subcommittee on Wednesday, facing potential threats to federal funding amidst growing political scrutiny.

The hearing, titled “Anti-American Airwaves: Holding the Heads of NPR and PBS Accountable,” was convened by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga. Greene has been a vocal critic of both networks, accusing them of liberal bias and questioning their entitlement to taxpayer funding.

Paula Kerger, CEO of PBS, and Katherine Maher, CEO of NPR, will appear before the subcommittee to address concerns regarding the federal support their organizations receive, with some lawmaker allies of former President Donald Trump already calling for significant program cuts.

Kerger, 68, a seasoned leader at PBS, has been with the network since 2006. Contrastingly, Maher, 41, was a tech executive who took the helm at NPR just a year ago and has faced backlash over her previous political affiliations and comments online, which surfaced shortly after her appointment.

“This could be a perfect storm,” said Kerger in a recent interview. “That’s why this moment does feel different. It feels as if this is a time that we really do need to step up and make as clear a case as possible.”

Greene characterized the hearing as an opportunity to hold public broadcasters accountable. “I want to hear why NPR and PBS think they should ever again receive a single cent from the American taxpayer,” she stated. ”These partisan, so-called ‘media’ stations dropped the ball on Hunter Biden’s laptop and downplayed COVID-19 origins.”

The hearing comes amid significant involvement from business mogul Elon Musk, who has criticized both networks for perceived governmental affiliations. Earlier this year, Musk labeled NPR as “state-affiliated,” a designation that raised alarms within the organization, prompting NPR to halt its activity on Musk’s platform, formerly known as Twitter.

Despite the criticism, both CEOs defended their organizations’ contributions. “We think of it as our local station but in reality we are one of the largest networks in the nation,” Maher said, highlighting that NPR stations reach approximately 43 million listeners each week.

According to NPR’s data, local stations operate over 1,000 outreach platforms with around 3,000 local journalists supporting various communities. “The work we do and the reporting that we do informs the national discourse,” Maher emphasized. “And you don’t want that to disappear.”

Funding for NPR and PBS comes from several sources with Congress designating funds to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. NPR receives about 36% of its annual operating budget from corporate underwriting, while PBS derives 16% of its funds from the CPB. NPR’s operating budget reaches approximately $300 million, with most funds coming indirectly from federal sources via local stations.

Your local public broadcaster may rely significantly on federal dollars, especially those in rural or economically challenged areas. “For them, a reduction or elimination of federal funding would represent an existential crisis,” Kerger warned.

The political landscape is evolving as well, with proposals like the “No Propaganda Bill,” backed by GOP lawmakers aiming to cut CPB funding altogether. Critics argue that such measures would have grave implications for public access to unbiased information across the country.

As both leaders prepare to address their critics on Capitol Hill, they underscore the importance of public media in providing news and educational content. “Public media is big in this country. It offers that essential public service, reaching millions of Americans,” said Maher.