The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) is formally dissolving after nearly six decades, marking a significant shift for the U.S. public media landscape.
The organization’s board voted in December to shut down the nonprofit, a decision announced publicly on Monday after months of winding down operations. The move follows Congress’ decision last summer to rescind $1.1 billion in previously approved federal funding for CPB—funding that was set to support the organization through the next two fiscal years.
Created by Congress in 1967 through the Public Broadcasting Act, CPB was established to distribute federal funds to public television and radio outlets. Over the years, it became a critical backbone for more than 1,500 locally owned public media stations nationwide, with roughly 70% of its funding directed to local stations rather than national outlets like PBS and NPR.
Those stations rely on CPB support for local journalism, educational programming, children’s content, and emergency alert services—particularly in rural and underserved communities.
CPB President and CEO Patricia Harrison said dissolving the corporation was a deliberate choice aimed at protecting the broader public media system rather than leaving the organization exposed.
“For more than half a century, CPB existed to ensure that all Americans—regardless of geography, income, or background—had access to trusted news, educational programming, and local storytelling,” Harrison said. “When the Administration and Congress rescinded federal funding, our Board faced a profound responsibility: CPB’s final act would be to protect the integrity of the public media system and democratic values by dissolving, rather than allowing the organization to remain defunded and vulnerable to additional attacks.”
Ruby Calvert, Chair of CPB’s Board of Directors, called the decision devastating but necessary.
“After nearly six decades of innovative, educational public television and radio service, Congress eliminated all funding for CPB, leaving the Board with no way to continue the organization or support the public media system that depends on it,” Calvert said. “Yet even in this moment, I am convinced that public media will survive, and that a future Congress will address public media’s role in our country because it is critical to our children’s education, our history, culture, and democracy.”
CPB had already begun scaling back operations in August, shortly after it became clear funding would not be restored. The organization employed roughly 100 staff members, and a transition team has overseen the shutdown since the fiscal year ended on September 30.
While CPB itself is dissolving, public media stations are not shutting down immediately. However, the loss of federal support significantly complicates their ability to sustain operations, particularly for smaller, locally run outlets that depend on CPB funding to survive.
As part of its closure plan, CPB will complete the distribution of all remaining funds in accordance with congressional intent. The organization will also continue supporting the American Archive of Public Broadcasting, ensuring the digitization and preservation of historic radio and television programming. CPB’s own archives—dating back to its founding—will be preserved in partnership with the University of Maryland and made accessible to the public.
The dissolution comes amid broader political pressure on cultural institutions. Industry observers have drawn parallels to recent upheaval at the Kennedy Center, where leadership changes under the Trump administration led to widespread cancellations and public backlash. In its statement, CPB noted that remaining operational without funding could have left the organization vulnerable to political manipulation, legal exposure, or misuse by bad-faith actors.
Recent legal disputes surrounding CPB have also been resolved as part of the shutdown. In November, CPB and NPR reached a settlement related to nearly $36 million in interconnection funds, and CPB has since moved to dismiss its lawsuit against the Trump administration over attempted board removals, citing the case as moot.
Despite the closure, Harrison emphasized that the mission of public media must continue.
“Public media remains essential to a healthy democracy,” she said. “Our hope is that future leaders and generations will recognize its value, defend its independence, and continue the work of ensuring that trustworthy, educational, and community-centered media remains accessible to all Americans.”
For public broadcasters, the infrastructure remains—but the fight to sustain it just became far more urgent.