Corporation for Public Broadcasting votes itself out of existence
3 minute readPublished: Monday, January 5, 2026 at 8:20 pm
Corporation for Public Broadcasting to Dissolve After Congressional Defunding
NEW YORK – The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), the private entity responsible for distributing federal funds to PBS, NPR, and numerous public radio and television stations, has voted to dissolve. The decision, made on Monday, marks the end of an organization established in 1967.
The move follows Congress's decision last summer to defund CPB, a measure supported by President Donald Trump. The CPB board of directors opted for complete dissolution rather than maintaining a diminished presence.
According to CPB President and CEO Patricia Harrison, the final act aims to safeguard the integrity of the public media system and uphold democratic values. The organization's leadership believes that dissolving is preferable to remaining defunded and susceptible to further challenges.
Public broadcasting has faced criticism from Republicans, who have often alleged a liberal bias, particularly in news programming. These criticisms gained traction during the second Trump administration, when the GOP held complete control of Congress.
Ruby Calvert, the head of CPB's board of directors, described the federal defunding as devastating. Despite the challenges, Calvert expressed confidence in the future of public media, anticipating that a new Congress will recognize its crucial role in education, culture, and democracy.
CPB is currently supporting the American Archive of Public Broadcasting in its efforts to preserve historical content and is collaborating with the University of Maryland to maintain its own records.
BNN's Perspective: The dissolution of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting is a significant development for the media landscape. While concerns about bias are valid and should be addressed, the potential loss of public media's contributions to education, culture, and informed citizenry is a matter of concern. Finding a balance that respects diverse viewpoints while ensuring the continued viability of public broadcasting will be crucial moving forward.
Keywords: Corporation for Public Broadcasting, CPB, PBS, NPR, public broadcasting, defunding, Donald Trump, public media, Ruby Calvert, Patricia Harrison, media bias, federal funding, democratic values, American Archive of Public Broadcasting.