The proposed funding cuts to PBS and NPR have ignited heated debate across the political spectrum, pulling in high-profile voices from both media and politics. Among the most unexpected reactions came from television host Bill Maher, who expressed rare support for conservative efforts to privatize public broadcasting following a tense congressional hearing with NPR CEO Katherine Maher.
During testimony before the House Select Committee on the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Katherine Maher faced sharp questioning from Republican lawmakers, who argued that NPR’s newsroom lacks political diversity. Rep. William Timmons (R-S.C.) stated that NPR’s editorial staff included “87 registered Democrats and zero registered Republicans.”
Maher acknowledged the imbalance as “concerning,” but maintained that NPR’s reporting remained independent of political bias. She emphasized that personal beliefs do not dictate newsroom decisions, even amid criticism of her previous comments describing the First Amendment as a “challenge” for modern journalism.
In an unexpected twist, Bill Maher, the longtime liberal host of HBO’s “Real Time,” echoed calls for privatization during his CNN “Overtime” segment, saying the testimony convinced him that NPR and PBS should no longer rely on taxpayer funds. “It’s clear these organizations need to stand on their own,” he said, responding to viewer questions about the issue.
Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers have warned that defunding PBS and NPR would disproportionately harm rural communities and low-income households that depend on public broadcasting for local news, children’s education, and emergency updates.
Senator Collins voiced similar concerns, arguing that public stations remain vital to communities often overlooked by commercial outlets. “I share the frustration with the biased reporting by NPR, and I would support defunding it,” she said. “Nevertheless, local TV and radio stations continue to provide important coverage.”
The Senate is expected to continue debate for several more hours before a final vote later this week. If the measure passes, it would mark one of the largest rollbacks of public broadcasting support in U.S. history, forcing PBS and NPR to reassess operations and funding models that have relied in part on federal grants for more than five decades.
As the conversation unfolds, the vote has become more than a fiscal issue—it’s a national referendum on media trust, government responsibility, and the future of public information in America.