The order instructs the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and other federal entities to halt all direct and indirect funding to the two media outlets.
In a statement on social media, the PBS and NPR, which together receive around $500 million annually through the CPB, have faced growing scrutiny from Republican lawmakers since Trump took office.
The administration’s latest action is part of a broader campaign to defund or reshape institutions it perceives as ideologically opposed.
Paula Kerger, CEO of PBS, warned the cuts would “disrupt the essential service” public media provides, particularly for children’s education and local journalism.
“There’s nothing more American than PBS,” she said, pointing to the network’s long-standing bipartisan support.
This executive order comes just two weeks after the administration proposed a $9.1 billion package of budget rescissions, which included eliminating CPB funding—a measure not yet sent to Congress.
The CPB has already filed a lawsuit against the administration for attempting to remove three of its five board members, arguing the action would paralyze its governance and violate statutory norms.
In parallel efforts, the Trump administration has been working to restructure the US Agency for Global Media, targeting outlets like Voice of America and Radio Free Europe.
Some of these actions have been blocked by federal courts over concerns of executive overreach.