PBS filed suit Friday against President Donald Trump and other administration officials to block his order stripping federal funding from the 330-station public television system, three days after NPR did the same for its radio network.
To read the full story: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/pbs-suing-trump-administration-over-defunding-three-days-after-npr-filed-similar-case
PBS Hawai‘i Statement on PBS Lawsuit in Response to Executive Order
This morning, PBS national, along with Lakeland PBS, a member station in northern Minnesota, filed a lawsuit against the Trump Administration in response to the Executive Order issued on May 1 to end all federal funding for public media. This decision was not made lightly. However, PBS believes the circumstances necessitate legal action to protect the independence of the public media system.
For over 60 years, PBS Hawai‘i has proudly served as the only locally owned, statewide television station in Hawai‘i, delivering trusted programming to our communities. Federal support is a critical part of our operating model. In FY25, approximately 20% of our revenue came from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), and 100% of those dollars went directly toward acquiring and broadcasting national PBS programming.
If implemented, the Executive Order would prevent member stations from using federal funds to support PBS programming such as PBS NewsHour, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Nature, NOVA, and Masterpiece, as well as the essential services PBS provides.
While any reduction in funding will affect our operations, it will not change our commitment. All decisions at PBS Hawai‘i are made locally and with our community in mind. We remain dedicated to providing a reliable and thoughtful media space, one that informs, connects, and reflects the people of Hawai‘i.
In preparation for potential funding changes, we have already begun exploring new revenue opportunities. Our focus remains firmly on continuing to serve our communities with the high-quality programming they know and trust.
We are deeply grateful for the continued support of our viewers and partners, and we hope you will stand with us as we uphold our mission to serve as Hawai‘i’s public multimedia station, dedicated to enriching the lives of our island communities.
With respect and appreciation,
Ron Mizutani