In the early hours of Thursday, the U.S. Senate narrowly approved a controversial request from the White House to rescind $9 billion in previously allocated funding for foreign aid and public media, securing a 51-48 vote.
Colorado Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper expressed their opposition to the budget cuts, which targeted funding that Congress had only recently approved.
Additionally, two Republican Senators, Susan Collins from Maine and Lisa Murkowski from Alaska, aligned with Democrats in voting against the financial clawbacks.
Bennet issued a firm statement against the cuts, emphasizing the importance of local media in aiding rural and tribal communities during disasters: “During floods and wildfires, radio is often the only source of information for rural and tribal communities. We’ve got to continue to speak up, and we’ve got to fight these shortsighted, partisan cuts every step of the way.”
Concerns regarding the timing of these funding debates were also raised by several senators, arguing such discussions should occur during the appropriations process rather than reactively.
Murkowski articulated this viewpoint, underscoring the Senate’s responsibility to legislate independently: “Our responsibility is to legislate, not to shrug our shoulders and take direction from the White House.”
In defense of the rescissions package, GOP Senator Eric Schmitt from Missouri described the passage as essential for the Senate to align taxpayer dollars with American interests, claiming it was a necessary move to identify waste, fraud, and abuse.
The bill specifically aimed to retract roughly $8 billion in foreign aid, which included key funding for international disaster assistance and support for UNICEF. Additionally, the package cut about $1 billion that was earmarked for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), an entity that funds important programming for NPR, PBS, and their affiliated stations.
Despite efforts from Democrats and some Republicans to introduce amendments to protect CPB funding and maintain regional programming funding, these attempts failed. A majority of Republican senators opposed these amendments for fear of derailing the overall rescissions package, which needed to be finalized by Friday.
Hickenlooper articulated his concerns regarding the potential ramifications of the cuts, particularly for rural communities in Colorado that rely heavily on local stations for news and information. “I look at the cuts that are being considered — over a billion dollars from the public broadcasting,” he said, emphasizing the significant impact on rural areas.
The Senate managed to keep one public health program intact, specifically regarding international HIV prevention efforts, but the overall rescissions package will require the House to revote on it, with expectations of doing so later on Thursday.
Interestingly, all of Colorado’s House Republicans had previously voted in favor of the rescissions package.
In a broader context, Collins, despite her frustrations with the perceived liberal bias of NPR’s reporting, underscored the importance that local TV and radio stations play in providing essential coverage and maintaining community connection. She highlighted the impact that public broadcasting funding has on local initiatives such as emergency alert networks and community programming in her state of Maine.
The importance of public radio stations in Colorado was echoed by local leaders who cautioned against the cuts.
Gerald Rodriguez, general manager of KRZA in Alamosa, which serves the San Luis Valley, expressed his shock at the scale of the approval. Initially skeptical that such critical funding would ever be jeopardized, he stated, “It’s going to affect the local stations the most, and that’s what a lot of these communities depend on.”
Rodriguez noted that his station relies heavily on CPB funding for its operational budget, estimating that between 40 to 50 percent of its funding comes from the organization.
In preparation for potential financial strain, KRZA has been prudently saving and performing necessary repairs to maintain its equipment. Rodriguez emphasized that while Congress may have reservations about NPR, slashing CPB funding ultimately harms local stations.
Ashley Krest, general manager of KVNF in Paonia, expressed similar worries, noting that $161,000—amounting to about 20 percent of her station’s budget–was tied to CPB funding. She underscored that rural communities already experience challenges in accessing ample news coverage.
Krest mentioned that while listener feedback may sometimes reflect disagreements with NPR, they strive to remain diverse in their programming, reflective of their audience’s needs.
Tami Graham, executive director of KSUT, also voiced significant disappointment regarding the Senate’s vote. She noted the long-standing bipartisan support for public media and its critical role in her community’s news delivery. KSUT, which operates in the southwestern part of Colorado, expected around 20 percent of its budget—about $330,000—from CPB.
Given the financial environment in rural areas, Graham articulated the challenges of fundraising to replace lost funding, especially in communities less able to support large donations.
The sentiment of financial vulnerability was echoed across Colorado’s local public media stations. Stewart Vanderwilt, president and CEO of Colorado Public Radio, identified the depth of dependence on CPB funding, noting that losing such support could drive operational difficulties for many stations.
Vanderwilt highlighted the interconnected nature of public media stations and how decreased funding at one may lead to escalated costs for others, particularly in resource sharing.
“Non-profits operate on very limited margins. We do not have a 6 percent net margin to simply absorb the loss of funding and increased expenses,” Vanderwilt stated.
Krest, noting her station’s collaboration with the Rocky Mountain Community Radio network, indicated that while stations typically involve community fundraising efforts, the stark reality of funding losses could pose significant challenges moving forward.
Vanderwilt cautioned against the long-term consequences of the cuts: “When local news is diminished or lost in a community—the public watchdog role of the press is muted and the potential for waste, fraud, and abuse increases. We should be demanding more support for the role of the press in healthy communities.”
Aspen Public Radio’s Executive Director Breeze Richardson resonated with these concerns, suggesting more extensive support for public media rather than cuts. She commented, “Public radio serves all Americans and we can and will do more to invite those with diverse viewpoints onto our airwaves.”
As Colorado’s public broadcasters brace for the financial effects of the rescissions, Amanda Mountain, president and CEO of Rocky Mountain Public Media, expressed her commitment to continue serving the diverse population across the state regardless of their political affiliations.
“This devastating blow to our collective work here and across the country will hurt those who need us most, where there is no commercial incentive to fill any gaps,” she stated.
Tammy Terwelp, president and CEO of KUNC in Greeley, discussed the ramifications of losing CPB funding, which represents approximately 7 percent of her station’s budget.
Despite the impending challenge, Terwelp tried to maintain a positive outlook, noting the cuts could encourage stations to be more innovative and creatively seek out larger donations from supporters who have yet to be approached.
While the smaller stations hope for future reevaluation of CPB funding, they remain acutely aware of the vital role public access to information plays in their communities.
Republican Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina hinted at a possible reconsideration of some aspects of the rescissions package in the future, possibly addressing any regrets that may arise as the consequences of the cuts become more apparent.
This sentiment reflects a broader concern that many have regarding the implications of recent budgetary decisions on local news media organizations and their ability to serve communities effectively into the future.
Through their ongoing efforts, Colorado’s public media stations remain optimistic about navigating the uncertain waters of funding cuts while continuing to provide essential services to their communities.
image source from：cpr
