We’ve received numerous questions regarding federal funding and how it impacts WRTI, so we’re sharing the following information to ensure you’re fully informed.
What is the Executive Order issued by the President?
On May 1, 2025, President Trump issued an executive order limiting the direct or indirect use of Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) funds for NPR or PBS content and services. The full text can be found here.
It’s important to note: this order does not rescind or eliminate overall CPB funding, nor does it defund the annual support that stations like WRTI receive through CPB’s Community Service Grant (CSG) program.
Here is Patricia Harrison, President and CEO of CPB’s response to the executive order:
“CPB is not a federal executive agency subject to the President’s authority. Congress directly authorized and funded CPB to be a private nonprofit corporation wholly independent of the federal government."
“In creating CPB, Congress expressly forbade ‘any department, agency, officer, or employee of the United States to exercise any direction, supervision, or control over educational television or radio broadcasting, or over [CPB] or any of its grantees or contractors…’ 47 U.S.C. § 398(c).”
Currently, CPB is challenging the order in court but a ruling has not been issued in the matter.
How much does WRTI receive from CPB, and how are those funds used?
This year, WRTI received approximately $327,000 from CPB as a Community Service Grant. Approximately $91,000 of that grant was paid to NPR for:
- Programs such as Jazz Night in America, From the Top, and NPR newscasts.
- The website infrastructure that makes wrti.org possible, including the ability to share our stories with other stations around the country.
- Music playlist reporting to the recording industry, ensuring that music royalties are paid to musicians, composers, and other rights holders.
- Additionally, WRTI pays approximately $28,000 in non-CSG funds for the satellite system that delivers both non-NPR and NPR programming like the Metropolitan Opera broadcasts and NPR newscasts.
The remainder of WRTI’s Community Service Grant is used directly for on-air hosts and programming support and services. In total, the CSG accounts for 6% of WRTI’s annual budget.
How does the executive order affect WRTI?
The music you enjoy on WRTI is our highest priority. While the executive order introduces uncertainty into our national partnerships, it will not diminish the quality, integrity, or variety of what you count on and deserve from WRTI. We are in active conversations locally and nationally on how to best navigate these challenges and will keep you informed of any substantive developments.
What if federal funding for CPB was eliminated entirely?
WRTI would no longer receive the annual Community Service Grant of $327,000. In addition we would have to directly pay for the additional services currently paid by CPB. The most crucial of those services is music royalty payments. CPB currently pays music royalties on behalf of all public broadcasting stations, including WRTI. Without these payments WRTI would no longer be able to broadcast music. We estimate the loss of CPB funding would have an annual impact of $700,000 per year.
How much are the music royalty payments that CPB covers?
Simply put, we do not know. Since they are negotiated on behalf of all stations, and we are not directly involved, the information is not available. We do estimate the payments to be significant though. It’s important to note that music rights is a very complex issue with many entities involved. It is almost impossible to imagine negotiating those rights at the station level and we are certain it must be done collectively whether by CPB or another entity.
What can I do?
- Stay informed. Information is a powerful antidote to anxiety and uncertainty. We may not know everything, but we can often know more and that makes a difference.
- Support WRTI. Whether you believe NPR, PBS, or public broadcasting should receive federal funding or not, one thing is clear: classical music, jazz, and WRTI bring tremendous value to our community.
WRTI relies on listeners like you—people who believe that music is essential to our local cultural literacy and emotional well-being. Your support matters.
It sounds embarrassingly simple, but at our core, we are a community that listens together—and that’s a powerful force. With your continued partnership, we can continue to sustain this vital community institution.