On June 12, 2025, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 214–212 to cut over $1 billion in federal funding for public media, including NPR and PBS. The measure, part of a larger budget rollback backed by President Trump, now heads to the Senate for final approval.
It’s a move that’s been a long time coming for folks who believe the government shouldn’t be picking winners and losers in the media world, especially when the winner always seems to be on the left.
But here’s where things get tricky. Rural communities (places that often lean conservative) depend more on those public stations than cities do.
Why? Because they don’t always have cable, fast internet, or other options.
The Conservative Case for Cutting
For years, conservatives have argued that public media isn’t truly “public” if it mainly supports one side of the political aisle. A 2021 poll from Rasmussen found that 55% of likely U.S. voters said NPR has a liberal bias.
Conservatives don’t think taxpayers should be forced to pay for content that pushes political agendas they don’t agree with.
The House vote was a win for small-government supporters who believe the media should stand on its own, just like any other business.
The Rural Catch
Conservatives also care deeply about rural America. And here’s the honest truth: many rural PBS stations rely on federal money to keep the lights on.
According to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, some small stations get 30% to 50% of their budget from federal funds.
That’s where the conversation gets more interesting.
Rather than keeping Washington in charge, conservatives are looking for better ways to support these local stations – ways that don’t involve big government. Think local churches, civic groups, small-town businesses, and neighbors pitching in through online fundraisers.
Instead of letting D.C. decide what kids should watch, these communities could decide for themselves, and even create new programming that matches their values.
Solutions You Won’t Hear on the News
You won’t hear much about these solutions on CNN or MSNBC. The media likes to paint this as a black-and-white issue: either you love public media, or you hate education.
But that’s just not true.
Conservatives believe in helping kids learn. They just don’t believe the federal government should run the show. They’d rather see local control, private support, and new tech options fill the gap.
For example, in areas with solid broadband, families can turn to streaming platforms. In places without fast internet, churches and libraries can step up.
Rural stations could even partner with Christian schools or homeschool groups to keep shows on the air without federal dollars.
What the Media Leaves Out
Most national outlets focus on how the funding cuts might hurt NPR or PBS in big cities, but they skip over the rural impact; and the real conservative ideas for fixing it.
They also don’t mention how much waste and bias has piled up in public media. A 2022 watchdog report found that NPR received over $100 million in taxpayer support but still leaned heavily into opinion journalism instead of straight news.
To many conservatives, cutting the funding isn’t just about the money. It’s about fairness.
It’s about not using public dollars to push one side’s narrative.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
