OPINION: Defunding NPR, PBS will impact USF students
Public Broadcasting Service not only holds our favorite childhood shows, like “Sesame Street,” but it is also a tool for education. National Public Radio supports local news stations, like WUSF, and helps inform people nationwide.
Without these programs, public non-partisan news can cease to exist. As a result, democracy and the next generation’s ability to stay informed will be hurt.
Related: OPINION: Protect student journalists at USF and beyond
The President Donald Trump administration’s proposal from May requested that Congress approve a $9.4 billion recession bill. It includes removing and defunding broadcasting services and outlines that Congress would cut $8.3 billion in foreign aid and $1.1 billion to public broadcasting.
Trump also issued an executive order last month, “Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Biased Media,” which instructs the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to eliminate all funding for NPR and PBS by 2026. This would be a critical hit to news funding.
Sign up to the Weekly Roundup, The Oracle’s weekly newsletter that keeps readers up to date on the most essential USF news.
WUSF, our campus-based radio station, is funded and sponsored by NPR, meaning that any cuts to NPR can directly affect WUSF’s funding.
The defunding of NPR could directly impact USF students who get jobs and opportunities through WUSF’s internship program. It would affect access to the free campus-based media and radio station.
This is critical to freedom of the press and upholding democracy as a whole.
WUSF has a Save Public Media page on its website, stating that its funding is “under threat.”
The station aims to protect public media and continues to support communities in the area. Funding cuts could put programming services at risk.
“As a result, defunding public media would have a significant negative impact on local stations and the communities that rely on them for essential public services, including local news, public safety alerts and community connections,” WUSF stated on its website.
The defunding of NPR and PBS not only impacts local community-based journalism but can also largely undermine nationwide reporting and educational services.
Students may begin to see less non-partisan, reliable news. Which is a shame, because freedom of the press is strictly outlined in the First Amendment.
It also violates the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967, which established public media as a trusted, non-commercial source of information. It encourages local stations to serve their communities and recognizes media as a public good.
Meaning, information and education should not depend on private markets and sectors. Local journalism should not rely on private funds.
There are over 1000 NPR member stations across the United States, and Trump’s orders and funding cuts should not impact how people get substantial, credible news.
Related: What reporters at USF say about the Trump administration’s pressure on the press
NPR itself receives 1% of its funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting , but other local stations rely on CPB for almost 50% of their funding, according to a 2025 NPR interview.
CPB supports 35 local stations in Florida, such as WUSF, WEDU and WMNF — all located in the Tampa area.
Small stations can close without federal funding, and communities could lose the only free, professional news sources available.
Free media is essential to keep communities informed and entertained, especially in times of crisis. If media like this are dissolved, it can be harmful to journalism and education.
After Trump created the proposal to defund these platforms, NPR and PBS sued the administration, arguing “viewpoint discrimination,” which was similar to claims Trump had made about NPR.
Trump had claimed that the organization was “biased against conservatives.” But it’s not viewpoint discrimination to report the truth, which is what NPR and local news outlets aim to do.
CPB gave NPR a $1.9 million grant in 2024 to bolster fact-checking and to further include diverse viewpoints in their reporting.
Fact-checking prevents the spread of false information, which is especially critical in an age of misinformation. This form of accurate reporting also builds public trust in the media, helping people make informed decisions.
Including diverse viewpoints allows voices to be uplifted and represented, allowing for more perspectives and experiences. This can also create a more well-informed public, which can be critical to democracy.
We must protect journalism from political interference and continue to support freedom of the press, because access to the truth matters.
Without public media, students can lose important opportunities and receive critical, unbiased information.
More Stories
OPINION: USF coaches need to be more than game-day leaders
In his first year at USF, baseball head coach Mitch Hannahs brought an old-school approach to the program. He stayed off social media and had minimal interactions with fans, except during press conferences and games. And toward the end of the season, Hannahs began to decline interviews with The Oracle — both for himself and […]
OPINION: Why students should visit MOSI’s planetarium near USF Tampa
Tampa has been home to the second-largest digital dome in the country since April. And it’s right across the street from USF Tampa at the Museum of Science and Industry. I visited MOSI this week to see the Saunders Planetarium and Digital Dome Theater, and I was not disappointed. The price for adult general admission […]
OPINION: USF is showing up for mental health despite federal cuts
Struggling with mental health has become a common experience in college. And yet, instead of responding with urgency, the federal government is cutting funding. But as the federal government is investing less in mental health, USF is doing the opposite. Through investing in research, continuing to support new initiatives and a campus-wide focus on mental […]
OPINION: How USF students can march smart: A guide to protesting
At the No Kings demonstration in Tampa on June 14, I saw firsthand how a well-organized protest can elevate voices, spark conversations and push society forward. But while protests are often powerful, they can also be unpredictable. As tensions rise nationwide around social and political issues, more students are joining protests to make their voices […]
OPINION: $10 million says USF gets artificial intelligence right
Artificial Intelligence often conjures up thoughts of ChatGPT or Snapchat’s My AI. But when perceptions of AI are broadened, its powerful applications in academia become clear. USF has a college focused on AI, which is home to a wide range of research and offers courses to promote ethical AI use. This college is a testament […]
OPINION: Florida schools should get rid of the summer enrollment requirement
Who wants to be cooped up at home all summer, hunched over the computer when you could be at the beach with your friends? Not me. But under Florida’s 6.016 Summer Session Enrollment policy, this is how you may find yourself spending the summer. Florida currently requires all students entering the State University System with […]