Fact Check: SENATE APPROVES PUBLIC MEDIA CUTS Early this morning, the Senate narrowly approved devastating public media funding cuts. The Rescissions Act is now back with the House where a vote is expected within hours. Urge your Representative to vote NO. PROTECTMY PUBLIC MEDIA ®

Fact Check: Senate Approves Public Media Cuts

What We Know

On July 17, 2025, the Senate voted 51 to 48 to approve a package of funding cuts that includes significant reductions to public media, specifically targeting the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which funds NPR and PBS. The legislation, known as the Rescissions Act, seeks to claw back approximately $9 billion in previously allocated federal funds, with $1.1 billion directly affecting CPB over the next two years (NPR, The Hill). The House of Representatives is expected to vote on the Senate's version of the bill shortly after its passage in the Senate (CBS News).

The cuts have been met with strong opposition from public media advocates, who argue that such reductions will severely impact local stations, particularly in rural areas where public broadcasting serves as a critical source of news and emergency information (NPR, Forbes). A recent poll indicated that a significant majority of Americans, including a majority of Republicans, support federal funding for public radio (NPR).

Analysis

The claim that the Senate has approved cuts to public media funding is substantiated by multiple reputable sources. The vote was largely along party lines, with most Republicans supporting the cuts and Democrats opposing them. Notably, only two Republicans, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, voted against the measure (NPR, The New York Times). This partisan divide reflects broader political tensions regarding public media funding, with some Republicans arguing that public broadcasting has a left-wing bias and should not receive taxpayer support (NPR).

The reliability of the sources reporting on this event is high. NPR, CBS News, and The Hill are established news organizations known for their journalistic integrity. They provide detailed accounts of the legislative process and the implications of the cuts, including statements from public media leaders and lawmakers (NPR, CBS News, The Hill). However, it is essential to consider potential biases; for instance, critics of public broadcasting often cite perceived political biases in programming, which may influence their framing of the funding debate.

The urgency of the vote is underscored by the requirement for Congress to act before a deadline set by law, which adds a layer of complexity to the legislative process (CBS News). This context is crucial for understanding the political maneuvering surrounding the cuts.

Conclusion

The claim that the Senate has approved cuts to public media funding is True. The evidence from multiple credible sources confirms that the Senate has indeed passed a rescission package that includes significant cuts to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and other programs, with the House set to vote on the matter soon. The implications of these cuts are significant, particularly for local public media outlets that rely on federal funding to operate.

Sources

1. Senate approves cuts to NPR, PBS and foreign aid programs
2. How Every Senator Voted on Bid to Cancel Foreign Aid and ...
3. Senate to weigh amendments to foreign aid, public media ...
4. What’s in the Rescissions Act of 2025? - USAFacts
5. Senate passes $9B in cuts to global aid, public broadcasting
6. Senate Approves Billions In Cuts To Foreign Aid And Public ...
7. Congress approves DOGE cuts to public media, foreign aid