Columbia News

Senator Eric Schmitt, a member of the United States Senate, posted a series of tweets on July 16, 2025, discussing the Senate's vote on President Trump's rescissions package and criticizing federal funding for NPR and PBS.

In his initial tweet, Schmitt stated: "Today the Senate is voting to pass President Trump's rescissions package. We're defunding billions of dollars in radical leftist programs—and ENDING taxpayer funding for NPR and PBS. Let's take a look at the ways your tax dollars have been spent under the status quo. " (July 16, 2025).

He continued by referencing specific NPR content: "It extends beyond humans. In Valentine's Day 2024, NPR ran a feature on queer animals. In 2021, they published: 'Animals Deserve Gender Pronouns, Too' In 2022: 'What Queer Ducks Can Teach Teenagers About Sexuality.' https://t.co/DB6icUSncQ" (July 16, 2025).

Schmitt further argued that public funds support NPR’s editorial choices: "NPR is funded, in part, thanks to your hard-earned tax dollars. But for years, it's served as a platform for left-wing propaganda. For example: They're obsessed with gender ideology. Here's one March 2025 headline: 'Gender is a negotiation, whether you realize it or not.' https://t.co/o1KxiMcnnF" (July 16, 2025).

The debate over federal funding for public broadcasters like NPR and PBS has been ongoing for decades. Supporters argue that these organizations provide educational programming and news coverage that would otherwise be unavailable to many Americans without commercial interests influencing content. Critics often contend that such outlets display political bias and should not receive taxpayer money.

President Donald Trump previously proposed ending federal funding for public broadcasting during his administration as part of broader budget cuts—a position that has remained popular among some Republican lawmakers.