Federal Cuts to Public Broadcasting Threaten New Mexico’s Local Media Ecosystem

Courtesty of New Mexico Local News Fund

On May 2, President Trump confirmed his intention to eliminate federal funding for PBS and NPR with an executive order, reviving a long-standing ideological attack on public media. The Trump administration has accused the two broadcasters of using public funds to produce biased coverage and “left-wing propaganda,” framing the move as a win for fiscal conservatism and culture war politics. 
​
In response to this escalating threat, Josh Sterns, Managing Director of the Democracy Fund, shared his thoughts in a recent LinkedIn post—offering both historical context and a call to action for funders, journalists, and civic leaders alike.

This administration’s attack on NPR and PBS, and the thousands of local public radio and TV stations that partner with them is just the latest example of their efforts to silence reporting and undermine public service. This is a press freedom threat - in line with what the FCC is doing to pressure commercial media - and it is an attack on a vital resource for public safety and community information. The Executive Order is an unlawful overreach.

But here’s the reality: defunding public media doesn’t just hurt national outlets--it directly impacts local newsrooms, rural communities, and trusted sources of education and emergency information across New Mexico and the nation.

According to the New York Times, NPR and PBS stations could lose tens of millions in federal support, much of which is passed through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) to local affiliates that rely on those funds to survive. These cuts would disproportionately affect rural and underserved communities—the very places already facing chronic news deserts and under-resourced reporting. 

As an organization committed to strengthening local journalism in New Mexico, we know how vital public media is—not only for reliable coverage but for collaborative storytelling, public accountability, and crisis communication. For many New Mexicans, especially in tribal, rural, and Spanish-speaking communities, NPR and PBS affiliates remain among the few remaining trusted news sources.

​Now is the time to support and defend public media. These cuts aren’t just about budgets—they’re about control over information and access. We stand in solidarity with local NPR and PBS affiliates, and we’ll continue working to ensure that every New Mexican has access to trustworthy, independent news.