The Federal Communications Commission is investigating NPR and PBS over whether their member stations are airing sponsorships that violate federal rules against commercial advertising on public broadcasters.
NPR and PBS, both of which receive federal funding, "could be violating federal law by airing commercials," FCC chairman Brendan Carr wrote in a Wednesday letter to NPR CEO Katherine Maher and PBS CEO Paula Kerger. "In particular, it is possible that NPR and PBS member stations are broadcasting underwriting announcements that cross the line into prohibited commercial advertisements."
Both outlets have long faced scrutiny. NPR senior editor Uri Berliner resigned in April after he was suspended for criticizing Maher's "divisive views" and "devastating" bias. The Washington Free Beacon reported that month that Maher had dismissed widespread looting and property damage during the summer 2020 riots, saying it was "hard to be mad" about the destruction.
Carr's investigation aligns with President Donald Trump's campaign pledge to cut wasteful spending and boost government efficiency. Shortly after his election victory in November, Trump named Carr, a longtime Republican member of the FCC, to lead the commission, saying Carr is "a warrior for Free Speech" and "will end the regulatory onslaught that has been crippling America's Job Creators and Innovators."
NPR and PBS have received federal funding for decades through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. For fiscal year 2025, the CPB received around $535 million from the federal government, which it distributed among public broadcasting entities, including NPR and PBS.
Both broadcasters have denied wrongdoing, insisting that their sponsorships, also known as underwriting, fully comply with federal regulations, the New York Times reported.
Carr, who has vowed to ensure that "broadcasters operate in the public interest," said he will inform members of Congress about his agency's investigation.
"In particular, Congress is actively considering whether to stop requiring taxpayers to subsidize NPR and PBS programming," Carr said. "To the extent that these taxpayer dollars are being used to support a for-profit endeavor or an entity that is airing commercial advertisements, then that would further undermine any case for continuing to fund NPR and PBS with taxpayer dollars."