PBS Files Lawsuit Against Trump Over EO That Cuts Federal Funding

PBS filed a lawsuit Friday against President Donald Trump and top administration officials to block an executive order that cuts federal funding to the public television network.

This legal action comes three days after NPR filed a similar suit over the defunding of its radio network.

The PBS lawsuit argues that Trump exceeded his authority and engaged in “viewpoint discrimination” by targeting PBS for what he described as biased news coverage against conservatives.

The suit claims the president has no constitutional right to control PBS’s programming or its funding.

Attorney Z.W. Julius Chen, representing PBS, strongly denied Trump’s accusations of bias, per the New York Post.

“PBS disputes those charged assertions in the strongest possible terms,” Chen said.

“But regardless of any policy disagreements over the role of public television, our Constitution and laws forbid the President from serving as the arbiter of the content of PBS’s programming, including by attempting to defund PBS,” he added.

PBS was joined in the lawsuit by Lakeland PBS, a station serving rural northern and central Minnesota.

The suit describes Trump’s funding cut as an “existential threat” to Lakeland PBS and other member stations.

A PBS spokesperson said the network made the decision to sue after careful consideration. The goal is to protect public television’s editorial independence and the autonomy of member stations.

The executive order, issued earlier this month, directed the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and federal agencies to halt funding to both PBS and NPR.

PBS receives approximately $325 million this year from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, most of which flows directly to individual member stations.

The network derives about 22% of its revenue from federal sources, with 61% coming from station dues, which largely depend on government funding.

PBS programming includes educational children’s shows such as “Sesame Street,” “Clifford the Big Red Dog,” and “Reading Rainbow.”

The Department of Education canceled a $78 million grant supporting these programs as part of the Trump administration’s funding cuts.

The lawsuit highlights local impacts, noting that Minnesota’s Lakeland PBS faces threats to programs like “Lakeland Learns” and “Lakeland News.”

The latter is identified as the only regional TV program providing local news, weather, and sports.

PBS also stressed its role in supporting the nationwide wireless emergency alert system, indicating the broader public safety risks of defunding.

The lawsuit names Trump and officials, including Education Secretary Linda McMahon, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem as defendants.

This legal challenge is among multiple lawsuits filed by media organizations pushing back against Trump administration policies targeting public broadcasters.

Government-backed news outlets such as Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty have also faced financial and operational struggles under the administration.

The Associated Press has confronted the White House over press access restrictions, and the Federal Communications Commission is investigating news divisions at various television networks.