Cantwell pushes back on Admin efforts to defund 14 Local Broadcasting Stations in WA

Senator Maria Cantwell vehemently opposed President Trump’s rescission package, which aims to retract $1. 1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, jeopardizing 14 local stations in Washington State. She asserted that this move would disconnect millions of Americans, particularly in rural areas, from vital local news, emergency alerts, and beloved programs. Currently, public broadcasting serves 356 TV stations and 1,190 radio stations across the United States, funded at an average cost of only $1. 60 per person annually.

Cantwell emphasized that such funding is essential for maintaining the integrity of information in all 50 states. The proposed cuts not only undermine existing laws but also threaten the lifeline public broadcasting provides to communities. In her statement, she condemned the Administration's actions, stating they weaken non-partisan public broadcasting. The impact of these funding cuts could be particularly severe for rural communities, who rely heavily on local broadcasting. Cantwell's stance aligns with concerns raised by public broadcasting travel host Rick Steves regarding the Administration's ongoing efforts to defund public media.