A federal judge in Washington, DC has permanently blocked President Donald Trump’s executive order seeking to end federal funding for NPR and PBS, ruling that the measure amounted to unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination under the First Amendment.
US District Judge Randolph Moss said the order, which directed federal agencies to cut off funding to the two public media organisations, unlawfully targeted them over perceived editorial bias. In his ruling, Moss said the government could not use the power of the purse to punish disfavoured speech, and declared the directive unenforceable.
The decision is a significant victory for the two broadcasters, both of which had challenged the administration’s move on constitutional grounds. PBS president and CEO Paula Kerger welcomed the ruling, while NPR president and CEO Katherine Maher said it reaffirmed the protections afforded to a free and independent press.
The White House criticised the judgment and signalled it would continue the fight, arguing that NPR and PBS have no entitlement to taxpayer support. However, the ruling leaves in place a clear judicial warning that public funding decisions cannot be used as retaliation against editorial content.
