In March 2025, Congress passed a bipartisan resolution funding the Corporation for Public Broadcasting with $1.1 billion scheduled to fund member stations over the next two years.
But by a narrow vote of 51-48, the funding has been taken back.
“We have to put our foot down because we know it will not stop here.”
Michigan Democratic U.S. Senator Gary Peters took exception to the rescission on the Senate floor.
“Today its funding for local public media, but tomorrow it could be funding for infectious disease research, public education, or weather forecasting all on the chopping block.”
Senator Peters explained local news and community centered content serves an informed society.
“Families will no longer have 24/7 access to Michigan’s Learning Channel which provides educational math and literacy content for children all across my state. But the biggest harm that these funding cuts will have on our communities is the impact to emergency response and public safety.”
Senator Peters pointed out that when an ice storm knocked out commercial broadcast towers in Northern Michigan earlier this year, local public media stations had the ability to broadcast emergency warnings.