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A federal judge has blocked President Donald Trump\u2019s effort to strip federal funding from National Public Radio and Public Broadcasting Service, handing a legal victory to the embattled public media outlets, even as their long-term funding outlook remains uncertain.<\/span><\/p>\n In a ruling Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss permanently blocked the administration from enforcing a presidential directive that would have cut off federal support to NPR and PBS. Moss is a judge on the District Court of the District of Columbia and was appointed by former President Barack Obama. Moss cited the First Amendment, writing that it \u201cdoes not tolerate viewpoint discrimination and retaliation of this type.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIt is difficult to conceive of clearer evidence that a government action is targeted at viewpoints that the President does not like and seeks to squelch,\u201d Moss wrote, concluding the executive order was unlawful and unenforceable.<\/span><\/p>\n The decision marks a significant rebuke of the administration\u2019s argument that the outlets\u2019 coverage ran counter to American interests. Trump had previously said he would \u201clove to\u201d defund NPR and PBS, accusing them of left-leaning bias. Moss rejected that rationale outright, emphasizing that the government cannot deny funding based on disapproval of speech or editorial perspective.<\/span><\/p>\n Leaders at both organizations quickly <\/span>celebrated the ruling.<\/span><\/a> NPR CEO Katherine Maher called it \u201ca decisive affirmation of the rights of a free and independent press,\u201d while PBS CEO Paula Kerger described the executive order as \u201ctextbook\u201d unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination.<\/span><\/p>\n Still, the ruling may ultimately have limited practical impact.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n While Moss blocked the executive branch from unilaterally cutting funding, Congress has already taken steps that could prove far more consequential. Lawmakers previously rescinded federal appropriations for public broadcasting for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, a move that led to the shutdown of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), the key entity responsible for distributing federal funds to NPR and PBS.<\/span><\/p>\n