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FLORIDA - Florida Governor Ron DeSantis delivered a last-minute blow to public broadcasting by removing nearly $6 million dollars in annual funding from the state’s 2025 budget before it went into effect.
On June 30th, DeSantis vetoed a series of appropriations as he finalized the state’s $115 billion dollar spending plan.
Among those cuts was the complete removal of recurring funding designated for public radio and television stations.
Each public radio station is losing roughly $100,000 dollars, while public television stations are seeing more than $370,000 dollars slashed from their operating budgets.
These stations often rely on a blend of state support, listener donations, and corporate sponsorships to operate.
Despite the cut to general programming, the Florida Public Radio Emergency Network, which provides critical information during hurricanes and natural disasters, was not affected.
This state-level cut comes as public broadcasting faces additional financial threats on the national stage.
The United States Senate is currently debating whether to revoke over $1 billion dollars in previously approved funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a federal body that supports nearly 1,500 local stations across the country.
Supporters of public media warn that without reliable funding, communities could see reduced local programming, layoffs, and limited access to emergency broadcasts.