Judge Rejects Trump EO in Win for PBS, NPR, and the Public
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Tuesday, a federal judge ruled to permanently block the Trump Administration from issuing an executive order to defund National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). The judge cited the first amendment in his ruling, stating that the right to free speech “does not tolerate viewpoint discrimination and retaliation of this type.”
In response, Public Citizen co-president Lisa Gilbert issued the following statement:
“NPR and PBS are valuable resources for the American public. Children across socioeconomic backgrounds rely on their programming, and the political persecution of both stations by the Trump administration has been reprehensible.
“This ruling is a straightforward win for the rule of law. The Constitution is very clear: Congress holds the power of the purse. This judicial ruling t is appropriate, impactful and a victory for democracy.”