A federal judge has issued a temporary injunction against former President Donald Trump’s attempt to dismiss three sitting members of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting’s board of directors. The decision marks a significant legal setback for Trump’s broader campaign to exert control over media organizations and reshape public broadcasting policy.
On April 28, Trump moved to abruptly fire CPB board members Tom Rothman, Diane Kaplan, and Laura Gore Ross. The dismissals were delivered by email, without stated cause, by officials from Trump’s personnel office. The message informed the board members that their service was “terminated effective immediately” and thanked them for their contributions.
The CPB responded quickly by filing a lawsuit in federal court, arguing that the terminations violated the 1967 Public Broadcasting Act. That law established CPB as an independent, non-governmental entity and protected its board members from political dismissal. On April 29, U.S. District Court Judge Randolph D. Moss issued a ruling to pause the firings, scheduling a full hearing on the matter for May 14.
CPB lawyers say the law is clear: board members do not serve at the pleasure of the president, and the board is intentionally insulated from direct political influence. The statute also prohibits federal employees from holding board seats and reinforces CPB’s legal status as a private corporation, not a government agency.
The legal challenge comes amid a broader campaign by Trump’s administration to reshape publicly funded media. During his first 100 days in office, Trump has sought to reassert control over institutions like NPR, Voice of America, and other media organizations receiving federal grants, particularly those involved in diversity and inclusion work.
In a related case, the CPB previously secured an injunction against efforts by the White House Office of Management and Budget to delay funding for two major grant programs: FEMA’s Next Generation Warning System and the Department of Education’s Ready to Learn initiative. Trump has also proposed rescinding over $1.1 billion in CPB funding approved by Congress for use through 2027, though any formal rescission would require bipartisan support in both houses of Congress within 45 days.
CPB remains a critical funding source for public broadcasting, distributing more than $500 million annually. While NPR directly receives about 1 percent of its funding from CPB, many member stations depend on it for roughly 10 percent of their budgets.