On Thursday, the United States Congress passed a package that rolls back $9 billion in previously allocated funds, significantly impacting local media outlets across the nation.
The rescission package, proposed by President Donald Trump, includes nearly $1.1 billion aimed at the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which provides critical federal funding to institutions like PBS and NPR, along with their affiliated stations, including Houston Public Media.
As a direct consequence of these cuts, Houston Public Media anticipates a loss of approximately $2.2 million annually, representing nearly 10% of its operational budget over the next two years.
The decision to retract these funds was passed by both chambers of Congress with narrow margins and largely along party lines.
In the Senate, the vote was 51-48, and in the House, it was 216-213, with all Democrats opposing the measure.
In response to the funding cuts, Houston Public Media has initiated a $4.4 million resiliency fund campaign, which aims to recover the lost funding and ensure the continuity of its services.
Houston Public Media’s associate vice president and general manager, Josh Adams, stressed the importance of community support in navigating this difficult time.
“This is a defining moment,” he stated.
“We are pressing forward and standing strong in our commitment to serve the people of greater Houston with integrity, clarity, and purpose.
Our community helped build Houston Public Media, and the resiliency fund is how we meet this moment together.”
Historically, Houston Public Media has financially relied on a combination of community donations, corporate underwriting, and federal funding.
With the recent loss of federal funds, the station’s chief development officer, Lynne Cook, emphasized the critical need for continued community engagement and support.
“Public media was created to serve communities first, and that hasn’t changed,” Cook remarked.
“Whether it’s early education content, live storm coverage, or reporting on your local school board, the real impact of these cuts will be felt all across our region.
We’re asking the community to help preserve something they already own.”
Founded in 1950, Houston Public Media serves a large audience with over 2.7 million monthly users across its television, radio, and digital platforms.
Additionally, Houston Public Media is home to KUHT, the nation’s first public television station, which began broadcasting on May 25, 1953, eventually becoming a founding member of PBS in 1969.
During a recent appearance on the Houston Matters talk show, Adams expressed determination in the face of adversity.
“Ten percent, $2.2 million pulled out of our annual operating budget, that’s going to hurt,” he said.
“We’re going to have to tighten our belts.
We’re going to have to find unique ways to continue to do the work that we do for our newsroom, our newscast, for our digital properties, our social media, all the things we do.”
He also pointed out the potential fallout for NPR and PBS stations in smaller markets, which might struggle or even cease operations due to similar federal funding losses.
Serving 19 counties in the region, Houston Public Media plays a vital role, especially for many listeners relying on it for news and information during emergencies.
This situation underscores the necessity for community support to sustain public media’s essential services.
image source from：houstonpublicmedia
