Rage-giving, innovation and cuts: How public media has survived without federal funds

A year after President Trump signed legislation ending nearly six decades of bipartisan federal funding for public radio and television, US public media outlets have largely managed to stay afloat, though not without significant pain. More than 500 staff have lost their jobs across the sector, and while stations have leaned heavily on donor generosity, described by some executives as "rage-giving", and on new revenue streams, questions remain about whether this level of support is sustainable in the long run.

Federal money made up a small share of NPR's budget (under 2%) but was far more significant for local stations, averaging 8-10% for radio and higher still for public television. Examples include South Dakota Public Broadcasting, which lost seven of eleven journalists before raising a record $8 million to rehire staff, and WNIN in Indiana, which lost roughly half its budget but still posted its first budget surplus in five years thanks to a surge in member donations. Some stations, such as Colorado's KSUT, used the crisis to diversify, installing solar panels and building a $100,000 endowment, while others like KCRW in Los Angeles cut 10% of staff and pivoted programming. In March 2026, NPR, PBS and other stations won a lawsuit over the cuts, though the future of federal support remains uncertain.