Trump administration cuts federal funding to public broadcasting stations

SPOKANE, Wash. — Public broadcasting stations across the nation face significant operational changes as the Trump administration revokes over $1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

The cuts affect both PBS and NPR stations nationwide, forcing local stations to make difficult decisions about staffing and programming. KSPS PBS in Spokane has lost approximately 20% of its federal funding that the station has relied on for decades.

“Public media is really important. We’ve all kind of grown up in an America that had it and presumed it was there, and it’s under threat,” said Skyler Reep, Interim General Manager at KSPS PBS.

Since its inception, PBS has been supported by a federal grant funded by tax dollars. According to PBS, it costs taxpayers roughly $1.60 per year. The Trump administration threatened to cut this funding about a year ago.

“Ultimately, it was taken across the finish line in July. And it was a huge surprise. I mean, yeah, it’s decades and decades of history just wiped off the map,” Reep said.

The funding elimination forced KSPS PBS to eliminate six positions, about 17% of the staff. Another six employees have pay reductions, and several programs were canceled.

Reep says his team has a plan to continue serving the community.

“It involves being very, very responsive, hyper local,” Reep said about the station’s strategy.

While the cuts have been difficult, Reep says donors have stepped up to help the station.

“Since the loss of federal funding, donations have been up about 10 to 20%. Now I don’t expect that emotional responsive giving to last forever, it is not a sustainable plan,” Reep said. “But it certainly is helping us in this, in this moment where we kind of need to reset.”

For decades, KSPS PBS has provided research-based children’s programs and world-class documentaries to the community. The station continues working to keep these programs running despite the financial changes.