WASHINGTON — National Public Radio will receive approximately $36 million in grant money to operate the National Public Radio System under the terms of the agreement. legal settlement with the federal government's manager of funding for public broadcasting stations.
The settlement, announced late Monday, partially resolves a legal dispute that NPR accused Corporation for Public Broadcasting bow to pressure from President Donald Trump to defund it.
On March 25, Trump said at a press conference that he “would like” to defend NPR and PBS because he believes they are biased in favor of Democrats.
NPR accused CPB of violating her First Amendment free speech rights when it tried to block her access to grants appropriated by Congress. NPR also claims Trump, a Republican, wants to punish it for the content of its journalism.
On April 2, the CPB board initially approved a three-year extension of an approximately $36 million grant to NPR to operate a satellite “interconnect” system for public radio. NPR has operated and managed the public satellite radio system since 1985.
But corporate officials reversed course and announced that federal funds would go to an organization called Public Media Infrastructure. NPR stated CPB was under increasing pressure from the Trump administration when the agency funneled money to PMI, a media coalition that did not exist and was not legally authorized to receive the funds.
CPB's lawyers deny that the agency retaliated against NPR to appease Trump. They had claimed that NPR's allegations factually and legally untenable.
On May 1, Trump issued an executive order calling on federal agencies to stop funding NPR and PBS. The settlement does not end the lawsuit in which NPR is seeking to block any implementation or enforcement of Trump's order. U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss is scheduled to preside over the next hearing in the case on Dec. 4.
The agreement states that NPR and CPB agree that the order is unconstitutional and that CPB will not enforce it unless a court orders it to do so.
Meanwhile, NPR agreed to deny its request for a court order prohibiting CPB from awarding funds to PMI under a separate grant agreement.
Catherine Maher, NPR's president and CEO, said the agreement is “a victory for editorial independence and a step toward protecting the First Amendment rights of NPR and the public media system.”
Patricia Harrison, the corporation's CEO, said CPB is pleased that the litigation has concluded “and that our investment in the future through PMI marks an exciting new era for public media.”
On Aug. 1, CPB announced it would take steps to close it after Congress defunded it.
