Staff Reports
In a fiery congressional hearing last week, NPR CEO Katherine Maher faced intense scrutiny from Texas Congressman Brandon Gilbert over her past controversial tweets and allegations of bias at the publicly funded media outlet. The hearing, held by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) subcommittee, focused on whether taxpayer dollars should continue to support NPR and PBS amidst claims of left-wing partisanship. Gilbert’s sharp questioning highlighted concerns about the use of public funds to promote content that many conservatives view as divisive and ideologically slanted.
Maher’s resurfaced tweets, which included remarks on white privilege, reparations, and critiques of conservative viewpoints, became a focal point of the hearing. When pressed by Gilbert, Maher claimed her thinking had “evolved,” but her responses were met with skepticism. Gilbert pointed out inconsistencies in her statements and suggested that these tweets reflected deeper biases within NPR’s editorial decisions. He specifically noted NPR’s reluctance to cover stories like the Hunter Biden laptop scandal while amplifying narratives like the Russia collusion theory—an imbalance he argued undermines the outlet’s claim of nonpartisanship.
The exchange underscored broader frustrations among Republicans about perceived liberal bias in public media. NPR and PBS receive significant funding through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which was allocated $525 million this year. While NPR insists that public funding constitutes only a small portion of its budget, critics argue that any taxpayer support for an organization with such apparent ideological leanings is unacceptable. Congressman Jim Jordan joined Gilbert in questioning whether NPR’s editorial decisions align with its mandate to serve all Americans impartially.
Maher’s performance during the hearing did little to assuage concerns. Her inability to directly address questions about past editorial choices or offer concrete steps toward greater viewpoint diversity left many lawmakers unconvinced. Freshman Representative Brandon Gill (R-TX) delivered some of the most pointed criticism, accusing Maher of using taxpayer dollars to push a progressive agenda while ignoring stories that challenge left-wing narratives. His remarks resonated with conservatives who have long called for defunding public media outlets they see as partisan.
The hearing has reignited calls from prominent Republicans, including former President Donald Trump, to strip NPR and PBS of federal funding altogether. Trump took to Truth Social to label the organizations “biased arms of the Radical Left Democrat Party” and urged Congress to act swiftly. With growing momentum among fiscal conservatives and public trust in media at historic lows, the future of taxpayer support for public broadcasting hangs in the balance.
For many Americans, this debate goes beyond Maher’s tweets or even NPR itself—it reflects a broader demand for accountability in how public funds are used. As calls for defunding intensify, this hearing may mark a turning point in the decades-long battle over federal support for public media. Whether Congress will take decisive action remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the days of unquestioned taxpayer support for NPR are over.
