Larson Opposes Trump Plan to Defund PBS and NPR

East Hartford, CT - Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) announced he would oppose President Trump's proposalto eliminate funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting that supports PBS and NPR when it is presented to Congress.

"I will strongly oppose any plan to defund PBS and NPR, an idea that should be a non-starter with every Member of Congress," said Larson. "We are the United States of America, a democracy founded on the principles of freedom of expression, speech, and the press, not whether you agree or disagree with the sitting President of the United States. Public broadcasting serves a critical role in our communities as a fair and reliable arbiter of news, emergency alerts, and educational resources for all residents. More than 50 million Americans tune in to public television every week, and 25 million listen to public radio. Without federal funding, many local stations could be shuttered, leaving millions with little to no quality, local journalism in their area. Polling has shown that Americans have no interest in this idea - it is simply the latest of President Trump's petty attacks on news outlets that dare question him and his policies."

The Trump Administration has announced plans to send a bill to Congress that rescinds $9.3 billion in federal funding, including the entire budget that was already appropriated for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. A recent pollfrom the Pew Research Center revealed that only 24% of Americans would support this proposal.