WASHINGTON, D.C. — August 1, 2025 — After nearly six decades of supporting public media across the United States, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) has announced it will begin winding down its operations following the elimination of its federal funding.
The decision comes in the wake of a federal rescissions package and the Senate Appropriations Committee’s release of the fiscal year 2026 Labor-HHS-Education bill, which—for the first time since CPB’s founding in 1967—excludes funding for the organization.
“Despite the extraordinary efforts of millions of Americans who called, wrote, and petitioned Congress to preserve federal funding for CPB, we now face the difficult reality of closing our operations,” said CPB President and CEO Patricia Harrison.
Founded to ensure a trusted, accessible, and community-centered public media system, CPB has supported thousands of locally operated radio and television stations, as well as educational programming, emergency communications, and cultural content for millions of Americans.
With the announcement, CPB employees were informed that most staff positions will be eliminated at the end of the fiscal year on September 30, 2025. A small transition team will remain through January 2026 to manage final distributions, financial obligations, and ensure compliance—especially related to music rights and royalties vital to public broadcasting operations.
“Public media has been one of the most trusted institutions in American life,” Harrison said. “We are deeply grateful to our partners across the system for their resilience, leadership, and unwavering dedication to serving the American people.”
CPB’s Board of Directors and leadership team are currently overseeing the legal and operational steps required to responsibly conclude its work. The organization plans to provide regular guidance to local stations and producers as they navigate the coming months.
Since its creation under the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967, CPB has served as the largest single source of federal support for public media, funding more than 1,500 local stations nationwide.
More information and updates will be available at www.cpb.org.
