Trump Seeks $9.4 Billion Cut from Foreign Aid and Public Broadcasting
In a bold move, President Donald Trump has requested Congress to retract approximately $9.4 billion from foreign aid programs and public news broadcasters, sparking support among representatives from Montana. The proposal allows for the reclamation of $8.3 billion in foreign aid and $1.1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), funds that primarily support NPR, PBS, and various local stations across the country.
Congress has 45 days to act on this rescission request, which is currently under consideration by the U.S. House. Republican lawmakers are largely backing the initiative, arguing that public media outlets demonstrate bias against conservative viewpoints. U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke emphasized that taxpayer dollars should not be used to subsidize news organizations, while U.S. Rep. Troy Downing hailed the request as a step forward in Trump’s fiscal responsibility agenda.
This is not the first time the Trump administration has sought to reduce funding for public media. Last month, Trump issued an executive order directing the CPB to halt financial support for NPR and PBS, leading to legal challenges from the affected outlets and local stations.
Montana’s media leaders are pushing back against the proposed cuts. Executives from Montana Public Radio, Yellowstone Public Radio, and Montana PBS are actively campaigning for lawmakers to resist Trump’s request. Federal funding currently constitutes about 10% of the budgets for MTPR and YPR, while it makes up 20% for Montana PBS, highlighting the significant impact of these cuts on local broadcasting services.
With crucial federal funds on the line, the debate is intensifying over the role of public broadcasters in the current media landscape, amid claims of bias and calls for fiscal accountability.
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