US EditionAfter Trump and Congress spending cuts, public media stations wait on money for emergency alerts
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting's shutdown ends its administration of $136 million in emergency alert grants, with FEMA now responsible for distribution amid concerns over delays and public safety risks.
- Following the passage of the Rescissions Act of 2025, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting announced it can no longer administer the Next Generation Warning System grant program and will lay off most employees by September's end.
- President Donald Trump sent a rescissions request proposing elimination of previously approved public media funding, prompting congressional action to remove CPB's federal support.
- Congress created the Next Generation Warning System in fiscal 2022, authorizing $136 million; CPB awarded 44 grants totaling $21.6 million, with 175 stations requesting more than $110 million.
- If Federal Emergency Management Agency does not take control, Corporation for Public Broadcasting warned critical emergency-alert equipment purchases and station upgrades will halt, imperiling projects meant to save lives.
- Experts warn that FEMA staff and funding cuts since January have weakened disaster resilience, complicating NGWS administration and affecting stations like KSUT-FM that serve nearly 300,000 people in areas with poor cellphone reception.
71 Articles
71 Articles
Associated Press News
After Trump and Congress spending cuts, public media stations wait on money for emergency alerts
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which distributed federal funds to public media stations, is shutting down on September 30.
Warning: This could be a real emergency—at least as far as emergencies about emergencies go.
Louisiana Illuminator
New Orleans CityBusinessPublic broadcasting cuts hit emergency alert system in Louisiana
A fallen tree sits atop the Epps Annex Library in Lake Charles after Hurricane Laura struck in August 2020. The building has since been demolished. (Calcasieu Parish Police Jury photo)WASHINGTON — The Corporation for Public Broadcasting will no longer administer a grant program that has so far provided millions of dollars to local television and radio stations to upgrade the equipment they use to send out emergency alerts. The change comes after…
PBS North Carolina has been defunded, but it is not defeated
The "Big Beautiful Bill" passed by Congress con-tained many not-so-beautiful provisions. Among them was the dissolution of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), a clearinghouse that distributes funds to public radio and television stations in the U.S.
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