PBS and NPR have their funding cuts, which puts local stations at risk

Republicans passed huge cuts eliminating all federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which is a crucial financial lifeline to PBS, NPR, and more than 1,500 local stations across the U.S.

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It also included a cut of $7 billion to foreign aid, NPR reports.

NPR reports that the vote of 216-to-213 came down essentially party lines with all but two Republicans in favor of the cuts.

"Public funding has enabled the flourishing of a uniquely American system of unparalleled cultural, informational, and educational programming, and ensured access to vital emergency alerting and reporting in times of crisis — all for about $1.60 per American, every year. Parents and children, senior citizens and students, tribal and rural communities — all will bear the harm of this vote," NPR president Kathreine Maher said.

She also said the cuts were "an unwarranted dismantling of beloved local civic institutions, and an act of Congress that disregards the public will."

"When Hurricane Helene devastated western North Carolina last year, public broadcasting was there when traditional communications failed," North Carolina Democratic U.S. Rep. Alma Adams said. "Widespread power, cellular and internet outages meant that for thousands of North Carolinians, public radio was how they received their news."

The vote will cut $1.1 billion from CPB, which was meant to fund local news stations for the next two years, according to NPR. "CPB acts as a conduit for federal money to NPR, PBS and their member stations," the outlet notes. The impact of the cuts will mostly affect local stations, not NPR.

This article has been updated.