National Public Radio will receive roughly $36 million in grant funding to operate the nation’s public radio interconnection system, following a court settlement with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the federal steward of public broadcasting funds.
According to The Associated Press, the settlement, announced Monday, resolves part of a legal dispute in which NPR claimed the CPB attempted to cut off its funding under pressure from President Donald Trump.
In March 2023, Trump publicly criticized NPR and PBS, saying he would “love to” defund the outlets because he believed they favored Democrats. NPR argued that the CPB’s actions violated its First Amendment rights by effectively punishing the organization for its journalism.
On April 2, the CPB initially approved a three-year extension, worth about $36 million, for NPR to continue operating the Public Radio Satellite System, which NPR has managed since 1985.
However, NPR said the agency later reversed course under political pressure, redirecting funds to an entity that did not legally exist or have statutory authority to receive the money.
CPB attorneys denied any retaliation, calling NPR’s claims legally and factually baseless. In May, Trump issued an executive order calling for federal agencies to stop funding NPR and PBS.
The settlement does not end the broader lawsuit challenging the executive order, which remains scheduled for a Dec. 4 hearing before U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss.
As part of the settlement, both NPR and CPB agreed that the executive order is unconstitutional and that the CPB will not enforce it unless ordered by a court.
“This is a victory for editorial independence and a step toward upholding the First Amendment rights of NPR and the public media system,” said NPR President and CEO Katherine Maher.
Patricia Harrison, CEO of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, added that the settlement represents “an important moment for public media.”
The resolution ensures NPR can continue operating its interconnection satellite system, a critical part of the public radio network, while leaving the broader legal challenge over Trump’s executive order to be determined in court.
This outcome preserves federal funding for NPR’s operations and safeguards the network’s editorial independence amid ongoing political tensions.
