The Senate passed Donald Trump‘s set of spending cuts to rescind $1.1 billion from public media, despite warnings that the funding rollbacks will devastate the PBS, NPR and public station ecosystem.
The vote early on Thursday was 51-48, with Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) joining all Democrats and independents in voting against. The bill now goes to the House for final passage.
The cuts were part of a $9 billion rescissions package, with Republicans also voting to slash foreign aid and health programs.
Public media has faced funding battles throughout its history, dating to the 1960s, but they have so far beat back such efforts when bipartisan support came through in Congress.
This time around, Trump has threatened to withhold support and endorsements from any lawmaker who doesn’t vote for the cuts, as he has attacked PBS and NPR for alleged left-wing bias. It’s just his latest effort to try to undermine media outlets for coverage he dislikes.
But advocates of public media say that, if federal funding is eliminated, it’s the stations, including those in rural markets, that will face the greatest crisis, as they rely more heavily on funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Throughout the day on Wednesday, senators debated the rescissions package and voted on a series of amendments, including those that would retain funding for rural stations and those on tribal lands. But those amendments were defeated.
As the final vote neared, Murkowski sought to sway fellow Republicans, noting that public media stations in her state helped warn residents after a 7.3 earthquake struck off the Alaska Peninsula.
“Some colleagues claim they are targeting ‘radical leftist organizations’ with these cuts, but in Alaska, these are simply organizations dedicated to their communities,” she wrote on X. “Their response to today’s earthquake is a perfect example of the incredible public service these stations provide. They deliver local news, weather updates, and, yes, emergency alerts that save human lives.”
She added, “The tsunami warnings are now thankfully canceled, but the warning to the U.S. Senate remains in effect. Today of all days, we should vote down these misguided cuts to public broadcasting.”
Earlier, she had written that “we are lawmakers. Our responsibility is to legislate, not to shrug our shoulders and take direction from the White House.”
More to come.