Congressman Ronny Jackson has reintroduced the No Partisan Radio and Partisan Broadcasting Services Act, aiming to eliminate federal funding for National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). His reasoning? He believes both organizations have abandoned their mission of unbiased reporting and are now promoting left-wing political agendas at the expense of American taxpayers.
The Case Against NPR and PBS
Jackson didn't hold back in his criticism, stating:
"For decades, radical Democrats have funneled taxpayer dollars to NPR and PBS under the guise of 'serving the public,' despite both organizations abandoning their founding missions to provide non-biased content and instead promoting the same radical-left propaganda as any other fake news outlet."
Essentially, Jackson argues that if NPR and PBS want to take political sides, they should do so without government funding.
Backing his stance is DOGE Subcommittee Chairwoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, who has been vocal in her opposition to taxpayer-funded media. Greene framed the issue in terms of media bias against former President Trump and his supporters, stating:
"As my DOGE subcommittee hearing showed, these taxpayer-funded PR arms of the Democrat Party don’t deserve the American people’s hard-earned money. NPR and PBS hate President Trump, his supporters, and the majority of Americans who sent us a mandate in 2024. They can hate us on their own dime."
Who’s Supporting the Bill?
Jackson’s bill is gaining traction among conservative lawmakers who share concerns over media bias. Some of the key cosponsors include:
Jodey Arrington (TX)
Andy Biggs (AZ)
Tim Burchett (TN)
Michael Cloud (TX)
Mike Collins (GA)
Neal Dunn (FL)
Paul Gosar (AZ)
Troy Nehls (TX)
Chip Roy (TX)
Keith Self (TX)
Randy Weber (TX)
This list includes some of the most outspoken conservatives in Congress, many of whom have criticized what they view as left-wing bias in taxpayer-funded media.
A Common-Sense Move or an Attack on Public Broadcasting?
Supporters of Jackson’s bill argue that taxpayer money should not be used to fund politically biased media outlets. They see the bill as a necessary step to prevent the government from subsidizing what they view as Democratic Party-aligned narratives.
However, opponents of defunding NPR and PBS argue that these organizations provide valuable, educational programming, cultural content, and fact-based journalism that might not otherwise be available, especially in rural communities. They say that public broadcasting fills a gap that corporate media ignores and that defunding it would harm access to non-commercial news and information.
Will the Bill Pass?
With a Republican-controlled House, Jackson’s bill may gain momentum, but passing it through the Senate and getting President Biden’s signature would be a steep challenge. Democrats and even some moderate Republicans may push back against completely cutting federal funding for public media.
Still, this bill represents a growing frustration among conservatives regarding media bias and taxpayer funding of organizations they believe are hostile to their values. The debate over NPR and PBS funding is far from over, and it remains to be seen whether Congress will take action or if this remains a rallying point for future elections.
