JUST IN: NPR, Public Radio Stations Sue Trump Over Defunding: ‘Clear Violation of the Constitution’
AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, File)
NPR and three Colorado public radio stations have sued President Donald Trump and his administration over an executive order taking away public funds for NPR and PBS.
President Trump, White House budget director Russel Vought, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Maria Rosario Jackson, the chair of the National Endowment for the Arts, are all named as defendants in the suit, filed Tuesday, which argues Trump overstepped in his executive authority by ignoring Congress’ right to appropriate public funds.
“It is not always obvious when the government has acted with a retaliatory purpose in violation of the First Amendment. ‘But this wolf comes as a wolf,'” the lawsuit states, referencing a 1988 dissent by late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.
The radio stations joining NPR in the suit are Colorado Public Radio, Aspen Public Radio, and KSUT.
“The Executive Order is a clear violation of the Constitution and the First Amendment’s protections for freedom of speech and association, and freedom of the press,” Katherine Maher, president and CEO of NPR, said in a statement.
The lawsuit describes Trump’s order as “textbook retaliation.”
Trump signed an order earlier this month directing funds going to National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting Company be stopped. The president accused both networks of biased coverage.
“What does matter is that neither entity presents a fair, accurate, or unbiased portrayal of current events to taxpaying citizens,” he said at the time. “I therefore instruct the CPB Board of Directors (CPB Board) and all executive departments and agencies (agencies) to cease Federal funding for NPR and PBS.”
