In a move outlined in the book “Mandate for Leadership,” also known as Project 2025, the Trump Administration put into action a strategy to overhaul public media in the United States. This plan was particularly focused on two key agencies: the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB).

The chapter on public media contains two main sections. The first, written by Mora Namdar, highlights security issues and staffing problems at the USAGM, calling for much-needed reforms. The second section, by Mike Gonzalez, takes a more direct approach. He suggests cutting off federal funding for the CPB, which supports several public broadcasting stations, including NPR and PBS. Gonzalez argues that this can be done easily through the budget process and emphasizes that these broadcasters should not have the automatic assumption that they serve the public good.

The CPB distributes federal funds to over 1,500 local public radio and television stations, many of which depend on these funds to stay afloat. In rural areas, some stations rely on federal money for a significant portion—between 25% to 50%—of their budgets. For some small towns, a public radio station is often the only local news source and plays a crucial role in emergency alerts.

In May 2025, the President signed an executive order aimed at ending government funding for NPR and PBS. He argued that, with so many other news options available, taxpayer support for news organizations is no longer necessary and could harm journalistic independence. Following this, Congress voted to eliminate $1.1 billion in CPB funding as part of a larger budget-cutting measure called the Rescissions Act of 2025, which passed largely along party lines.

For the first time in over fifty years, the Senate’s fiscal 2026 appropriations bill did not include any funding for the CPB. As a result, the CPB announced a planned shutdown, letting go of most staff by September 30, 2025, and voted to dissolve itself in January 2026.

While the CPB’s funding cuts are straightforward, the changes at the USAGM are harder to track. The report found insufficient evidence of the security reforms that were proposed.

Despite these challenges, NPR and PBS continue to operate. They’ve worked to fill the gap left by federal funding with support from donors. NPR pledged $8 million to assist local stations in distress, while PBS affirmed its commitment to serving the public. The true impact of these funding cuts on local stations won’t be fully evident for years, and many are anxious about potential closures. The real test will come in small towns across the country rather than just in Washington, D.C.

The effects on public media continue to unfold.

Since the CPB has ceased operations, the most direct way to support public broadcasting now is to donate directly to NPR, PBS, or an individual local station. PBS and NPR both provide official donation mechanisms. An important distinction is that donating to NPR or PBS today is not the same as donating to the former Corporation for Public Broadcasting. CPB was the federal intermediary that distributed grants to local public-media stations; it is no longer in operation. Donations now go directly to the individual nonprofit station, NPR, PBS Foundation, or another public-media organization.

Public radio serving Fullerton/Orange County

LAist 89.3 FM — formerly KPCC

LAist operates LAist 89.3 FM, the station formerly known as KPCC. It is part of Southern California Public Radio.

This is one of the most important public-radio services for Fullerton because its programming covers Los Angeles and surrounding Southern California communities, including Orange County.

• Donate: https://laist.com/
• Membership phone: 626-583-5121
• What it does: NPR programming, local and regional journalism, investigations, arts, culture and community reporting.
• Station: 89.3 FM

LAist states that it is now 100% community-funded, with individual donations providing its largest and most reliable source of funding. 

KCRW 89.9 FM

KCRW is a nonprofit public-media station based at Santa Monica College. Its programming includes NPR news, local journalism, music discovery, culture and community programming. KCRW’s signal and digital services reach communities throughout Southern California. 

• Donate: https://www.kcrw.com/
• Address: 1900 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90405
• Main phone: 424-538-8500
• Membership: 888-600-KCRW (5279)
• Check donations under $1,200: KCRW, PO Box 7010, Artesia, CA 90702
• What it does: NPR news, local news, music, culture, arts programming, podcasts and community events. 

KCRW says individual donors provide the majority of its operating budget. 

6. Classical KUSC — 91.5 FM

Classical KUSC is the University of Southern California’s listener-supported classical music station.

• Donate: https://www.classicalcalifornia.org/
• Membership phone: 800-421-1717
• Donation questions: 213-225-7404
• Mail: KUSC, P.O. Box 7913, Los Angeles, CA 90007-0913
• Station: 91.5 FM
• What it does: Commercial-free classical music, arts coverage and broadcasts from Southern California cultural institutions, including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, LA Opera and other major ensembles. 

KUSC describes itself as a listener-supported nonprofit public-radio station and a broadcast service of USC. 

8. KJazz 88.1 FM — KKJZ

KJazz 88.1 is a noncommercial public radio service associated with California State University, Long Beach. It is especially relevant to western Orange County because its Long Beach signal serves the broader Southern California area.

• Donate: https://www.kkjz.org/
• Mail: KJazz 88.1, P.O. Box 251469, Los Angeles, CA 90025
• Studio: 6300 State University Drive, Suite 332, Long Beach, CA 90815
• General: 310-478-5540
• Fundraising: 310-478-5061
• What it does: Jazz, Latin jazz and blues programming, community concerts and educational programs. 

KJazz currently describes itself as a broadcast service of CSULB. 

Public television serving Fullerton/Orange County

1. PBS SoCal — KOCE-TV

PBS SoCal is the primary PBS member organization for Orange County. Its principal broadcast service is KOCE, formerly identified as KOCE-TV/Channel 50. PBS SoCal provides PBS programming, PBS KIDS, documentaries, news, arts and cultural programming, and Southern California-produced programs. Its channels reach Orange County and other Southern California counties. 

• Donate: https://www.pbssocal.org/
• Address: 3080 Bristol St., Suite 100, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
• Donation/member phone: 714-241-4100, ext. 4
• Toll-free donation: 800-278-5050
• Mail donations: PBS SoCal, Attn: Member Services, PO Box 6009, Whittier, CA 90607
• What it does: PBS programming, local Southern California news/arts/culture, educational programming, PBS KIDS and community outreach. 

PBS SoCal says that more than half of its annual revenue comes from community support, including more than 175,000 individual members. 

2. PBS SoCal Plus — KCET

KCET is now part of the PBS SoCal/PBS SoCal Plus operation rather than a separate PBS organization. PBS SoCal describes PBS SoCal Plus as the successor service to KCET, carrying PBS programming along with original series and classic films. 

• Donate: https://www.pbssocal.org/
• Main PBS SoCal address: 3080 Bristol St., Suite 100, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
• Phone: 714-241-4100
• Donation phone: 800-278-5050
• Burbank facility: 2900 W. Alameda Ave., Suite 500, Burbank, CA 91505
• What it does: PBS programming plus locally produced Southern California arts, culture, history and public-affairs programming. 

Important: For donation purposes, you generally do not need to make a separate “KCET” donation. PBS SoCal operates the PBS SoCal Plus service.