BONNIE CASH ; POOL/EPA
Cut of public subsidies come with an accusation of bias by the US President. THECommunication rgans have tens of millions of hearings per month.
United States President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday night to cut public subsidies to public radio and television, NPR and PBS, accusing the partiality broadcasters.
According to the latest data released, more than 40 million Americans hear the radio public two states (NPR – National Public Radio) every week and 36 million tune public television (PBS – Public Broadcasting Service) every month.
Trump ordered the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and other federal agencies to protect public media systems to cease federal funding to both stations.
The president’s decree also requires that the department that protects public broadcasting works to neutralize indirect financing sources of state radio and television.
The presidency of the United States, in a publication widespread through social networks, also said that the public media receive millions of dollars from taxpayers to spread “Radical propaganda disguised as news”.
In March, NPR director Katherine Maher estimated that public radio would receive $ 120 million in 2025, less than 5% of the necessary budget.
This will of US administration is signed up for the intention to significantly reduce public expense for public media.
Previously, Donald Trump has established the dismantling of Radio Voice of America, Radio Asia Livre and Radio Free/Radio Liberdade, which transmit at international level.
The measure announced on Thursday is the latest decision of the US Administration to use federal powers to control or hinder the operation of institutions that transmit independent points of view.
Since taking office in January, Trump has departed managers, has put employees on administrative license and cut hundreds of millions of dollars In financing for artists, libraries, museums or theater companies.
The head of state also pressure to retain federal universities research and education funds and punished lawyers firms unless they agreed to eliminate gender diversity programs or racial issues.
PBS Chairman Paula Kerger said last month that Donald Trump’s intention to terminate funding for public media. will disturb the essential service that public television provides US citizens.
“There is nothing more American than PBS and our work is only possible thanks to bipartisan support (Republican Party and Democratic Party) we have always received from Congress,” he said.
“The public-private partnership of public social communication service allows us to help Prepare millions of children for success At school and in life and also supports enriching and inspiring programs of the highest quality, ”he added.
In April, the US administration reported that it was going to ask Congress to financing annulment of the entity that protects the sector (corporation for public broadcasting) as part of a package of cuts of $ 9.1 billion.
However, this package, that the director of the budget Russell Voght said it was probably the first of several, It has not yet been sent to the Capitol.
Presidential decrees against public media have faced resistance from US Federal Courts, who have decided, in some cases, that Trump’s leadership may have surpassed the authority by retaining funds attributed by Congress.
Today, the French organization Reporters Without Borders denounced what considered a worrying deterioration of press freedom United States.
