The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), a key institution in America’s public radio and television system since the 1960s, has announced it will shut down following a board decision to dissolve the organisation. The move comes after Congress rescinded all federal funding, leaving CPB without the resources needed to operate effectively under the Public Broadcasting Act.
CPB, a privately run nonprofit, stated that sustained political attacks and the withdrawal of government support made it impossible to continue its mission of providing educational programming, trusted news, and local storytelling across the United States. Patricia Harrison, CPB President and CEO, said the decision to dissolve reflects a responsibility to protect the integrity of public media and democratic values rather than allowing the organisation to remain defunded and vulnerable.
Ruby Calvert, Chair of CPB’s Board of Directors, described the loss of federal funding as leaving no practical option to continue operations or support the public media system dependent on CPB. She acknowledged the devastating impact on public media but expressed hope that future Congressional action would address the organisation’s role in education, culture, and civic engagement.
First authorised by Congress under the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967, CPB played a central role in developing a network of more than 1,500 locally owned public radio and television stations. Over the decades, CPB supported educational content, emergency alert systems, and journalism that connected communities while strengthening civic participation. The board emphasised that maintaining a dormant and defunded CPB would leave it vulnerable to political manipulation, threaten editorial independence, and pose legal risks to staff and board members.
As part of its closure, CPB will responsibly distribute remaining funds in line with Congressional intent and continue supporting the American Archive of Public Broadcasting, ensuring historic content is digitised and preserved. CPB archives, dating back to its founding in 1967, will be preserved in partnership with the University of Maryland and remain accessible to the public.
The dissolution has drawn criticism from Democratic lawmakers, including Senator Edward J. Markey, who called the move “a grave loss for the American public.” He highlighted CPB’s role in ensuring access to news, children’s programming, local stories, and emergency information, and vowed to continue efforts to protect free speech and public media independence.
While local stations and producers are expected to continue operating through alternative funding, the closure of CPB removes the central body created to distribute federal funds and safeguard public media from political influence, marking a significant structural shift in the US public broadcasting landscape.
