July 17, 2025
Appropriations Committee defunds CPB and slashes foreign operations
Johnson’s House axe cuts $9B in media and aid
💵Tax & Budget🌍Foreign Policy📰Media Literacy
GOP-led House approved rescissions package stripping $1.1 billion from Corporation for Public Broadcasting on Jul. 17, 2025
The package cuts $7.9 billion from foreign aid, affecting Ukraine, Gaza, and Central America humanitarian assistance
Small communities dependent on public broadcasting for emergency alerts and local news face media blackouts
The cuts force refugee camps to close, medical supplies to run out, and reconstruction projects to halt
Congress is testing constitutional power of the purse against presidential veto authority
The showdown determines whether lawmakers control federal spending or presidents can redirect appropriated funds
Humanitarian aid cuts impact ongoing crises while domestic PBS cuts eliminate educational programming
💵Tax & Budget🌍Foreign Policy📰Media Literacy
Test Your Knowledge
10
Q1
How much funding did the rescissions package cut from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting?
Q2
Rural communities are disproportionately affected by public broadcasting cuts because they often lack commercial news outlets.
Q3
The $9 billion in cuts represents a significant percentage of total federal spending.
Q4
The rescissions package passed the House by a wide bipartisan margin.
Q5
How much was cut from global health programs that combat infectious diseases?
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What you can do
1
civic action
Call your representative demanding restoration of public broadcasting and rural emergency broadcast funding
The Appropriations Committee defunded the Corporation for Public Broadcasting with over $1 billion in cuts, leading to its dissolution in January 2026. The committee also slashed foreign operations by 22% - a $13 billion reduction from 2025 levels. These cuts eliminated emergency broadcast systems in rural areas and reduced U.S. global leadership funding to $46.2 billion. CPB chose to dissolve after nearly 60 years rather than remain defunded and vulnerable to further attacks.
Call your representative at 202-224-3121 demanding restoration of public broadcasting and rural emergency broadcast funding. Key points: CPB dissolved Jan 6, 2026 after $1+ billion cut. Foreign operations slashed 22% - $13 billion reduction. Rural emergency broadcast systems eliminated. 60 years of public media ended. Ask: Will you support restoring CPB funding to maintain rural emergency alerts and public media access? Will you oppose further foreign aid cuts that harm U.S. global leadership?
2
Email president@whitehouse.gov to support veto of public broadcasting cuts that harm educational programming
3
Contact local PBS stations to understand specific impact of funding cuts on your community
4
Support H.R. 1585 - Public Broadcasting Protection Act to restore CPB funding
5
Join advocacy groups like Public Media Alliance to coordinate grassroots opposition to cuts
6
Attend town halls to pressure representatives during budget negotiations before cuts take effect