The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), the congressionally created nonprofit that has long supported NPR, PBS and more than 1,500 local radio and television stations across the United States, is officially shutting down following sweeping federal funding cuts approved by Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump.
CPB announced Monday, January 5, 2026, that its board of directors voted to dissolve the organization, bringing an end to its 58-year role in the U.S. public media system.
The decision follows congressional action last summer that rescinded more than $1 billion in previously approved funding, effectively stripping the corporation of the resources needed to carry out its statutory mandate.
“For more than half a century, CPB existed to ensure that all Americans—regardless of geography, income, or background—had access to trusted news, educational programming, and local storytelling,” CPB President and CEO Patricia Harrison said in a statement. “When the funding was rescinded, the board faced a profound responsibility: CPB’s final act would be to protect the integrity of the public media system and democratic values by dissolving, rather than remaining defunded and vulnerable to further attacks.”
Legal and Governance Implications
Created by Congress in 1967, CPB operates as a private, nonprofit corporation but is funded primarily through federal appropriations. Its mission and responsibilities are set out in federal law, placing it at the intersection of public policy, constitutional governance, and media law.
In its dissolution notice, CPB said its leadership concluded that “without the resources to fulfill its congressionally mandated responsibilities, maintaining the corporation as a nonfunctional entity would not serve the public interest.”
Legal analysts note that the move underscores the limits of congressionally chartered entities when appropriations are withdrawn, even if their underlying statutory authority remains intact.
The funding cuts were part of a broader package passed by the Republican-led House and Senate, targeting CPB and other federal agencies and fulfilling a request from the Trump administration to roll back public spending. The legislation canceled funds that Congress had previously approved, raising legal and political questions about the stability of long-term public institutions dependent on annual appropriations.
Impact on Public Media
CPB announced as early as August that it would begin an orderly shutdown process. Most staff positions were eliminated by the end of September, with a small transition team retained through January to manage the wind-down. The organization said it will now distribute all remaining funds in accordance with legal and fiduciary requirements.
While CPB played a central role in supporting public broadcasting infrastructure and content—including funding for landmark programs such as Sesame Street—PBS, NPR, and local stations have remained on the air through a mix of alternative funding sources, including viewer donations, corporate underwriting, and state or local support.
However, media law experts warn that the dissolution could have long-term consequences for smaller and rural stations that historically relied on CPB grants to meet public service and educational obligations.
End of an Era
The closure of CPB marks the end of a foundational institution in U.S. public media, highlighting how shifts in federal appropriations and political priorities can effectively dismantle congressionally created bodies without repealing the statutes that established them.
As CPB winds down its operations and distributes its remaining assets, the future of federal involvement in public broadcasting now rests entirely with Congress—and with the broader legal debate over the government’s role in supporting independent, noncommercial media.
