In April, shortly after President Trump moved to dismiss three members of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) board, an attempt was made by a faction within the government, known as the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), to conduct an operational review of the organization. The CPB, established as a nonprofit independent from federal oversight, rebuffed this request, citing its legal protections against federal control. This development occurs amid a broader campaign by the Trump administration to challenge the independence of major public broadcasting entities.
Court filings from a lawsuit challenging Trump’s April 28 actions reveal that DOGE staff, particularly Nate Cavanaugh from the General Services Administration, reached out to CPB board members not targeted for dismissal, seeking to assign a review team. The CPB’s legal team responded on April 30, emphasizing the organization’s autonomy as enshrined in federal law, which bars any executive branch component from supervising CPB activities.
The Trump administration maintains that the president holds the constitutional authority to remove personnel exercising executive functions. However, the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967 explicitly prohibits federal interference with public telecommunications and CPB operations. Following Trump’s executive order directing the cessation of federal funding to the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and National Public Radio (NPR), CPB and other leaders deemed the directive illegal, citing protective provisions within the act.
Current fiscal allocations provide CPB with $535 million, with any rescission attempt by the president requiring congressional approval, which remains uncertain. Additionally, the executive order seeks to terminate any direct or indirect funding to NPR and PBS. Correspondingly, the Department of Education has already ended a grant supporting educational programming.
CPB has petitioned the court to prevent Trump’s attempted board member removals, asserting that such actions would cripple its ability to conduct necessary business, as a quorum would not be met. A scheduled board meeting on May 13 underscores the urgency, as it involves key decisions, including legislative strategies and grant approvals.
The legal proceedings continue, with the next hearing set for May 14. This case highlights ongoing tensions between the administration and public broadcasting entities, raising questions about governance and the scope of executive influence over independent agencies.
