If Congress were to defund NPR and PBS, the consequences could be severe. A secret report from NPR executives in 2011 highlights how vital funding is to their operation, noting that many member stations operate at minimal profit margins. The potential loss of $240 million in public funding could result in the closure of approximately 18% of NPR's stations, disproportionately affecting regions like the Midwest, South, and West. About 30% of listeners could also lose access to key programming, making this a significant public service issue.
Most NPR member stations operate at, or barely above, break-even. A cutoff would cause up to $240 million to vanish and up to 18 percent of roughly 1,000 member stations to close.
Following her testimony at the House hearing, NPR CEO Katherine Maher highlighted the potential devastation, stating that the impact of defunding would lead to a significant loss of access for listeners.
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