WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) will begin shutting down operations after Congress eliminated its funding for the first time in more than 50 years.
Following the announcement, several Spokanites gathered outside of the Spokane Public Television Building as a show of support.
According to a CPB news release, the decision follows passage of a federal rescissions package and the Senate Appropriations Committee’s fiscal year 2026 Labor-HHS-Education funding bill, which excludes CPB funding.
Founded nearly six decades ago, CPB has supported educational programming, local journalism, emergency communications and cultural content through partnerships with public radio and television stations across the country.
CPB provides yearly funding for Spokane Public Radio (KPBX) and Spokane Public Television (KSPS). After its closure, that funding will stop.
President of Spokane Public Radio John M. Decker explained that CPB funds made up around 12% of KPBX’s yearly budget. To lose that funding means losing $250,000 dollars. Money that Decker says will need to be made up in other areas.
But Decker says that this cut will not end Spokane Public Radio.
“We’re not going anywhere, but we’re going places,” Decker said. “We’re still reaching over 300 million people in a month. That’s pretty significant. If Public Television and public radio had no purpose to serve — We wouldn’t be standing here, this conversations would have been over decades ago.”
Decker explained that KPBX is planning to grow and expand — to help reach the audience in new ways.
President and General Manager of KSPS Gary Stokes said the future of Spokane Public Television is full of uncertainty.
“Now we’re in a position, and a condition, where we’re trying to figure out what’s next, and for us that could be the next two weeks, the next two years two years, or not at all,” Stokes said.
After the announcement of CPB’s closure, a crowd gathered outside of the KSPS building to show support.
Many individuals had signs that showed their favorite PBS character, and there were even thank you cards being signed for KSPS.
“Despite the extraordinary efforts of millions of Americans who called, wrote, and petitioned Congress to preserve federal funding for CPB, we now face the difficult reality of closing our operations,” said CPB President and CEO Patricia Harrison. “CPB remains committed to fulfilling its fiduciary responsibilities and supporting our partners through this transition with transparency and care.”
CPB leadership said it will continue to provide updates and assist local stations and producers during the transition.
But in the meantime, Stokes said the future of KSPS remains uncertain.
