Larson Statement on the Closure of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting
East Hartford, CT – Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) released the following statement after the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) announced it would begin winding down operations due to President Trump and Congressional Republicans’ attacks on NPR and PBS.
“Today is a dark day for public media and our First Amendment,” said Larson. “Not even a month after Republicans in Congress voted to defund PBS and NPR at the President’s command, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting is closing its doors. For nearly 60 years, they have been a bulwark for local television and radio, emergency alert systems, and beloved programs for our kids. To think that children might have to grow up without programming that speaks to their generation the way Sesame Street has spoken to and nurtured the imaginations of children for the last 50 years, because PBS would not toe the Trump line, is nothing short of heartbreaking. I will continue to work with CT Public and my colleagues in Congress to find ways to support public broadcasting and restore the patriotic mission of a free press for all media.”
Rep. Larson strongly opposed President Trump’s recissions bill that defunded PBS and NPR.