#ProtectMyPublicMedia
It’s time to take a stand for this trusted public service you rely on.
Public media is facing immediate funding cuts at both the state and federal level that would have significantly impact the programming we provide.
On a national level, federal cuts would have a devastating impact on public media stations across the country and erode the services that you and so many others rely on. These services, including news, music and culture, educational programs, and the emergency alert system, are offered to all Minnesotans for free, without paywalls, connecting our communities across the state.
We make these services freely available to our communities because public service is at the core of everything we do. Our communities count on us, and we will stand strong to continue to serve them. On April 28, we expect the White House will deliver a package to Congress requesting the elimination of $1.1 billion for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). This move would effectively dismantle the public media ecosystem by defunding the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The CPB is a private, nonprofit corporation that supports 1,300 local public media stations across the country, like Minnesota Public Radio, as well as NPR and PBS.
-
The White House proposal comes after Congress extended federal funding for the CPB through fiscal year 2027 in February. Federal funding for government programs, including support for public media, is currently authorized under a Continuing Resolution. Both the U.S. House and Senate passed a continuing resolution (CR) to extend FY2024 federal funding levels through the rest of FY2025, with a few alterations and adjustments. It includes level funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (the two-year advance to FY 2027), as well as Interconnection and the Next Generation Warning System.
-
MPR received 6% of its budget last year from the CPB. The impact of the elimination of CPB funding could extend beyond the direct grant to MPR by reducing the capacity of smaller stations to acquire content produced or distributed by MPR and American Public Media.
-
The FCC launched an investigation into the underwriting practices of NPR and PBS, and their member stations. In announcing the investigation, the FCC chairman expressly indicated his opinion that NPR and PBS should no longer receive taxpayer dollars.
-
The Presidents and CEOs of NPR and PBS, Katherine Maher and Paula Kerger, testified at a Congressional Oversight DOGE subcommittee (Marjorie Taylor Greene R-GA, Chair) hearing on federal funding of public media and bias in content on March 26.
How to Help
There are many ways to show your support for MPR.
1. Contact your representatives
At the federal level, the White House will send a rescission package to Congress requesting the elimination of $1.1 billion for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), effectively dismantling the public media ecosystem by
defunding the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Please reach out to your federal representatives and urge them to vote against these cuts!
At the state level, the Minnesota House and Senate Legacy Committees are considering a significant reduction in our Legacy funding. Act now to increase MPR's Legacy funding allocation for Fiscal Year 26-27 to keep it even with our Fiscal Year 24-25 level of $4.1 million.
Why is Minnesota Public Radio and the public media ecosystem important?
As the second largest local public media station in the nation, MPR delivers programming and services of unparalleled value across the region.
Public media is the country’s only no-cost, commercial-free, local, nonprofit news and information service, resulting from a highly efficient public-private partnership.
Public media strengthens our society by delivering balanced, fact-based insights and diverse perspectives that foster meaningful dialogue and build community connections while serving as the backbone of emergency alert systems that keep Americans informed and safe during emergencies.
Contact Us
Inquiries for Minnesota Public Radio should be directed to our Member & Audience Services department by using our our contact form or by phone at 651-290-1212 | 1-800-228-7123. (Phones open 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. CT Monday through Thursday, open 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. CT Fridays).