CONGRESSMAN JOE MORELLE DENOUNCES TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S HALTING OF FEDERAL FUNDING FOR PBS AND NPR

(Rochester, N.Y.)—Today, Congressman Joe Morelle issued the following statement in response to President Trump’s Executive Order to halt federal funding for NPR and PBS:

“NPR and PBS are pillars of American culture and journalism. From learning to count on our favorite childhood programs to staying informed with programs like All Things Considered, these networks are central to the American experience.

“As a father, and again now as a grandfather, I have fond memories of watching programs like Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, Reading Rainbow, and Cosmos and the lessons they taught my family—and countless others—about kindness, curiosity, and friendship.

“Stripping away funding for NPR and PBS isn’t just a budget decision; it’s part of a larger assault on trusted public institutions—from educational programming to independent journalism—that Americans rely on every day.

"This move by the Trump administration is just the latest in a series of authoritarian attacks on the free press and cultural institutions. These are public services, not pawns for Trump's political agenda—and I refuse to stand by while they’re dismantled. I’m calling on my colleagues and every American who values truth and education to stand up and speak out."

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