Trump move to bar funding for NPR, PBS stopped by court

Emily Wilson March 31, 2026

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Trump move to bar funding for NPR, PBS stopped by court

A federal judge has prevented the implementation of a presidential order that sought to restrict funding for National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). The ruling came after President Donald Trump’s May executive order, which directed the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to halt financial support for these entities, was deemed unlawful by US District Judge Randolph Moss.

Appeals court delays VOA employee recall

In a separate development, an appeals court panel temporarily halted the enforcement of a federal judge’s directive to return Voice of America (VOA) staff from unpaid leave. This pause affects the timeline for the Trump administration’s actions, which had previously been ruled unlawful by US District Court Judge Royce C. Lamberth.

Moss, a nominee of President Barack Obama, argued that the 2025 executive order violated the First Amendment by targeting media outlets based on political viewpoints. In his ruling, he stated, “It is difficult to conceive of clearer evidence that a government action is targeted at viewpoints the President does not like and seeks to squelch.”

“This decision reflects a ridiculous ruling by an activist judge attempting to undermine the law,” said White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson.

Trump’s administration also passed a July package that eliminated approximately $1.1 billion in allocated funds for public broadcasting. Despite this, the long-term impact of Moss’ ruling remains uncertain as appeals are anticipated. The media organizations now face a precarious situation, with their financial stability potentially threatened by ongoing legal challenges.

The executive order aimed to curb NPR and PBS funding, with Trump and his allies asserting that the outlets’ reporting skewed toward liberal bias. However, the court’s intervention has temporarily shielded these entities from immediate budget cuts, though the broader implications for public broadcasting persist.