Sat Jun 14 15:30:00 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text, rewritten as a news article:
**House Passes Bill to Defund Public Media, Foreign Aid at Trump’s Request**
**Washington, D.C.** – In a near party-line vote, the House of Representatives narrowly approved legislation Thursday to rescind $9.4 billion in previously approved federal funding, targeting public media and foreign aid programs. The bill, passed by a 214-212 margin, marks the Trump administration’s first attempt to claw back already allocated funds, and aligns with President Trump’s repeated accusations of bias against conservative viewpoints within NPR and PBS.
The proposed cuts include $1.1 billion earmarked for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) over the next two fiscal years. This funding is crucial for local television and radio stations, particularly those in rural and underserved areas. Executives from NPR and PBS have strongly condemned the vote, warning of the dire consequences for local stations and the communities they serve. NPR CEO Katherine Maher cautioned that the rescission could lead to “news deserts” and loss of access to vital emergency information. PBS CEO Paula Kerger emphasized the disproportionate impact on smaller, rural stations.
The legislation also seeks to cut $8.3 billion from foreign aid programs focused on global public health, disaster assistance, and hunger relief.
The vote followed heated debate, with Republicans arguing the targeted programs represent wasteful spending and biased media, while Democrats defended public broadcasting as an essential service providing balanced news and critical information during emergencies. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries criticized the bill as “cruel” for cutting children’s programs.
The bill now moves to the Senate, where its fate remains uncertain. While Senate Majority Leader John Thune has stated the rescissions request will be taken up soon, opposition is expected. The Senate must approve the bill by mid-July, or the funding will be released.
The move has ignited a firestorm of criticism from public media advocates, including a bipartisan caucus co-chaired by Rep. Mark Amodei (R-NV), who expressed concern for the impact on rural communities. The vote is being closely watched as a key indicator of lawmaker alignment with President Trump, with groups like Heritage Action using it as a benchmark on their legislative scorecards. The bill could cut essential news, children’s programs, and emergency services from small and rural communities.
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