Executive Order 14290

Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Biased Media

Signed May 1, 2025, printed at 90 FR 19415. 3 sections of substance, 921 words.

In plain English

This order cuts federal money to NPR and PBS. It says their news leans one way.

Sec. 1. Purpose

National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) receive taxpayer funds through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). Unlike in 1967, when the CPB was established, today the media landscape is filled with abundant, diverse, and innovative news options. Government funding of news media in this environment is not only outdated and unnecessary but corrosive to the appearance of journalistic independence. At the very least, Americans have the right to expect that if their tax dollars fund public broadcasting at all, they fund only fair, accurate, unbiased, and nonpartisan news coverage. No media outlet has a constitutional right to taxpayer subsidies, and the Government is entitled to determine which categories of activities to subsidize. The CPB's governing statute reflects principles of impartiality: the CPB may not ``contribute to or otherwise support any

In plain English

This sets out the case the order makes. It says two broadcasters get tax money. That money flows through a public corporation. It says the media landscape has changed since 1967. It says funding news now looks like a favor. It says no outlet has a right to public money.

Sec. 2. Instructions to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting

(a) The CPB Board shall cease direct funding to NPR and PBS, consistent with my Administration's policy to ensure that Federal funding does not support biased and partisan news coverage. The CPB Board shall cancel existing direct funding to the maximum extent allowed by law and shall decline to provide future funding. (b) The CPB Board shall cease indirect funding to NPR and PBS, including by ensuring that licensees and permittees of public radio and television stations, as well as any other recipients of CPB funds, do not use Federal funds for NPR and PBS. To effectuate this directive, the CPB Board shall, before June 30, 2025, revise the 2025 Television Community Service Grants General Provisions and Eligibility Criteria and the 2025 Radio Community Service Grants General Provisions and Eligibility Criteria to prohibit direct or indirect funding of NPR and PBS. To the extent permitted

In plain English

This cuts off that money. The funding board must stop paying the two outlets. It must cancel existing grants where it can. It must also block money passed on through stations. Grant terms must be revised before June 30, 2025. Those terms would bar any indirect funding.

Sec. 3. Instructions to Other Agencies

(a) The heads of all agencies shall identify and terminate, to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law, any direct or indirect funding of NPR and PBS. (b) After taking the actions specified in subsection (a) of this section, the heads of all agencies shall identify any remaining grants, contracts, [[Page 19416]] or other funding instruments entered into with NPR or PBS and shall determine whether NPR and PBS are in compliance with the terms of those instruments. In the event of a finding of noncompliance, the head of the relevant agency shall take appropriate steps under the terms of the instrument. (c) The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall determine whether ``the Public Broadcasting Service and National Public Radio (or any successor organization)'' are complying with the statutory mandate that ``no person shall be subjected to discrimination in employment . . . on

In plain English

This tells other agencies to do the same. They must end any funding to the two outlets. They must then review remaining contracts. They must check whether the outlets meet the terms. Breaches must be acted on. The health agency must also check their hiring practices.

Sec. 4. Severability

Every order carries this. It is not what the order does.

If any provision of this order, or the application of any provision to any agency, person, or circumstance, is held to be invalid, the remainder of this order and the application of its provisions to any other agencies, persons, or circumstances shall not be affected thereby.

In plain English

This is the standard severability clause. If a court strikes down part of the order, the rest still stands.

Sec. 5. General Provisions

Every order carries this. It is not what the order does.

(a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: (i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or (ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals. (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations. (c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. <GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT> (Presidential Sig.) THE WHITE HOUSE, May 1, 2025. [FR Doc. 2025-08133 Filed 5-6-25; 11:15 am] Billing code 3395-F4-P </pre></body> </html>

In plain English

This is the closing clause that nearly every order carries. It says the order does not change what the law already allows. It also says no one can sue to enforce it.

How this order is quoted

Each section is quoted as the order prints it, under its own number and heading. Executive orders are United States government works and are not under copyright. Long sections are cut at a sentence and the whole order is a click away.