On May 27, 2025, National Public Radio (NPR) and three Colorado-based public radio stations—Aspen Public Radio, Colorado Public Radio, and KSUT Public Radio—filed a federal lawsuit against President Donald Trump's administration. The suit challenges Executive Order 14290, signed by President Trump on May 1, 2025, which directs the cessation of federal funding for NPR and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS).

The executive order, titled "Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Biased Media," instructs the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and other federal agencies to halt funding for NPR and PBS. It alleges that these organizations exhibit biased news coverage, violating the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967, and asserts that public funding for news programming is "not only outdated and unnecessary but corrosive to the appearance of journalistic independence" in the current U.S. media market.

In their lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, NPR and the co-plaintiff stations argue that the executive order constitutes retaliatory, viewpoint-based discrimination, infringing upon their First Amendment rights to free expression and editorial autonomy. NPR CEO Katherine Maher stated, "The intent could not be more clear—the Executive Order aims to punish NPR for the content of news and other programming the President dislikes."

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, established by Congress in 1967, is a private, nonprofit corporation that distributes federal funds to public radio and television stations. It is designed to operate independently of the federal government. The CPB receives approximately $535 million in federal funds annually, which it allocates to public broadcasting entities. NPR receives about 1% of its funding directly from the federal government, with a slightly greater amount indirectly through member stations. PBS and its stations receive about 15% of their revenues from CPB's federal funds.

Legal experts suggest that conditioning federal funding on a station’s editorial decisions may be unconstitutional. The CPB contends that it is not a federal executive agency subject to the President’s authority, emphasizing its congressional mandate to operate as an independent entity. This raises questions about the executive branch's power to unilaterally alter funding mechanisms established by Congress.

This legal action follows previous confrontations between the Trump administration and public media entities, including attempts to dismiss CPB board members and restrict funding. The outcome of this lawsuit could set a significant precedent regarding the independence and funding of public broadcasting in the United States.

Many local public radio and television stations, especially in rural areas, rely heavily on federal funding. The cessation of these funds could lead to downsizing or closure, reducing access to local news, emergency broadcasts, and educational programming.

The executive order and subsequent lawsuit highlight ongoing debates about media bias, government funding, and journalistic independence. The resolution of this case may influence public trust in both government actions and media organizations.

The lawsuit filed by NPR and its affiliates against the Trump administration represents a significant moment in the ongoing discourse surrounding public media funding, government oversight, and constitutional rights. The outcome of this legal battle could have lasting effects on the landscape of public broadcasting and the principles of free expression in the United States.