Archive · 9 Jun 2025
Judge Allows CPB Board Member Removal, But Restricts Replacements
A judge decided that Donald Trump can't be stopped from trying to remove people from the board that oversees public media, like PBS and NPR.
The CPB sued the government because the president wants to get rid of board members.
However, the judge said Trump can't just put new people in their place.
The CPB is an organization that gives money to public media.
The CPB's board also changed its rules to try and protect itself.
Now, Congress is deciding whether to cut funding for public broadcasting.
A federal judge declined to block Trump from removing CPB board members.
The CPB sued the Trump administration after board members received removal notices.
The judge stated that Trump cannot unilaterally appoint replacements for the board.
CPB changed its bylaws to safeguard independence.
A congressional vote on funding for public broadcasting is pending.
- Who
- U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), and the Trump administration.
- What
- Judge declined to block Trump from removing CPB board members and the CPB sued the Trump administration.
- When
- April, when the CPB sued the Trump administration.
- Where
- Federal court.
- Why
- To prevent the removal of board members by the Trump administration and to maintain CPB independence.
- Judge's Decision
- Declined to issue an order to prevent removals.
- Board Members Targeted for Removal
- Tom Rothman, Laura Ross, and Diane Kaplan
- Plaintiff in the Lawsuit
- CPB
- Public Broadcasting Act
- Prohibits 'direction, supervision, or control' over CPB
- Current board members
- 5
- Vacancies on the board
- 4
- Fiscal years the White House seeks to rescind funding for
- 2026 and 2027
- Annual federal funding to public broadcasting
- $535 million