The U.S. House of Representatives has approved a Trump administration plan to rescind $9 billion in previously allocated federal funds, including $1.1 billion designated for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The decision impacts all federal support for NPR, PBS, and their member stations.

The vote passed narrowly, 216-213, with all but two Republicans voting in favor of the cuts.

In the Central Valley, the move could have significant consequences for local stations KVPR, an NPR network, Valley PBS, and Radio Bilingüe.

KVPR: ‘We’re Not Going Anywhere’

In a video statement, Joe Moore, president and general manager of KVPR, said, “As of October 1, KVPR will face a shortfall of around $175,000.” He noted that federal funding accounts for about 7% of the station’s operational budget.

“Our team is working hard to develop a plan to address this looming shortfall. That means the prospect of cuts to programming, cuts to our local news operation and other important services that listeners across the Central Valley rely on,” Moore said.

He urged the public to mitigate the impact by donating or becoming monthly members. KVPR has been serving Central California for over 47 years, Moore said.

“We’re not going anywhere,” he added, stating that while other groups may go out of business, KVPR won’t.

Valley PBS Responds to Cuts

Valley PBS also responded to the vote on social media: “We are grateful for all of your support up until now, and this is not the result we were hoping for.

“Congress has officially voted to eliminate $1.1 billion in previously approved federal funding, and this affects our community and threatens our future.

“We strive to continue sharing diverse stories, educational media, and local content that inspires and powers the seven counties we serve here in the Central Valley.

And right now, your support is more important than ever.”

Radio Bilingüe Down $300,000

Radio Bilingüe, a Fresno-based Spanish-language radio station, is also among the broadcasters affected by the funding cuts. In a statement, the station said it will lose $300,000 annually from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

“This is a serious setback — not just for us, but for the communities we serve,” the station said.

The funding loss threatens critical components of its operations, including paying music royalties and supporting the national satellite infrastructure relied upon by its affiliate stations, the station said.

“Our team is doing everything possible to continue operations, deliver life-saving information, and keep the music playing that heals us,” said Hugo Morales, co-executive director.

—

Connect with Anthony W. Haddad on social media. Got a tip? Send an email.