On Thursday, RBR+TVBR shared the news that a markup of the 2026 Labor and Health and Human Services appropriations bill had taken place and provided no funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Now, the organization led by President/CEO Patricia Harrison has confirmed that CPB will be ceasing operations, and that the majority of staff will depart at the end of September.
In an announcement distributed midday Friday, CPB confirmed that it will begin “an orderly wind-down of its operations” following the passage of a federal rescissions package that resulted in a “claw back” of previously approved funding for the organization and the release on Thursday of the aforementioned appropriations bill, which excludes funding for CPB for the first time in more than five decades.
The announcement that CPB is shutting down because of Congressional actions fueled by the Trump Administration will end 58 years of activity that was authorized by Congress during the presidency of Lyndon B. Johnson. CPB has acted as a private non-profit corporation and as “the steward of the federal government’s investment in public broadcasting.” The creation of CPB directly helped in the creation of both NPR and PBS and has served as the largest single source of funding for research, technology, and program development for public radio, television, and related online services.
CPB has helped support the operations of more than 1,500 locally managed and operated public television and radio stations nationwide.
Harrison commented, “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. CPB remains committed to fulfilling its fiduciary responsibilities and supporting our partners through this transition with transparency and care.”
The majority of CPB staff positions will conclude with the close of the fiscal year, on September 30, 2025. A small transition team will remain through January 2026 to ensure “a responsible and orderly closeout of operations.”
This team, CPB said, will focus on compliance, final distributions, and “resolution of long-term financial obligations, including ensuring continuity for music rights and royalties that remain essential to the public media system.”
CPB’s Board of Directors and management “are working closely to address the legal, financial, and operational requirements of the closure,” the organization added, noting that the CPB will provide regular updates and guidance to stations and producers “navigating the profound challenges ahead.”
