Illinois public media could lose millions in federal tax funds
[July 11, 2025]
By Greg Bishop | The Center Square
(The Center Square) – More than $5 million in federal taxpayer funds
could be withheld from public media across Illinois if a measure clears
the U.S. Senate.
The U.S. House Oversight Committee heralded the passage of the
rescissions measure out of that chamber last month, saying “Tax dollars
will NOT go towards indoctrinating children with radical leftist
ideology.”
“@SenateGOP, it’s your turn to act,” a post on X said.
Debating the $9 billion rescission measure, Illinois U.S. Sen. Dick
Durbin, D-Springfield, explained what rescission means.
“So money appropriated by Congress, signed by a president sent to the
administration. They decide they're not going to spend,” Durbin said
Wednesday on the Senate floor.
The measure if passed by the Senate would rescind $1.1 billion from CPB,
including $700 million for public media across the country. Durbin
warned rescinding the funds will impact local communities.
“This local broadcasting is especially crucial. Rural public
broadcasting stations are often the only source of local news, the only
source of emergency alerts in the region,” Durbin said.
A review of most Illinois public media annual financial reports for 2024
shows a total of at least $5 million coming from CPB to local outlets.
The largest recipient was WSIU at Southern Illinois University with $2.9
million in federal funds for operations. That was followed by Illinois
Public Media out of the University of Illinois with $1.7 million in CPB
community service grants for operations.
“For us, it’s about 20%. It varies a lot among stations,” Maurice “Moss”
Bresnahan, executive director of Illinois Public Media, told Smile
Politely when asked how much federal funding makes up their overall
revenues. “So, if you’re in Chicago, it’s probably closer to six or
seven percent. There are some stations in Illinois where it’s over 50%.”
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Bresnahan said in May that big cities will still have a big
population base to fundraise off, but said “it’s safe to say that
there’s been some modeling done that 30% or 40% of stations would go
off the air” if federal tax funds are rescinded.
Republicans and President Donald Trump say taxpayers should not be
funding public media that has a liberal bias. Durbin said one
station proves that wrong.
“WGLT had 100% bipartisan participation from candidates in McLean
County municipal election event,” Durbin said.
The latest financial report WGLT had listed on their website was
from 2018. That report shows CPB community service grants totalling
$142,506.
Public media outlets associated with public universities in Illinois
also receive millions from state taxpayer funds for both operating
and non-operating costs. Financial records show Illinois Public
Media receiving $1.2 million for non-opearing costs from state
taxpayers in 2024.
Illinois universities also subsidize the public media on their
campuses. Financial records show Tri States Public Radio out of
Western Illinois University got $220,000 from the university for
donated facilities and administrative support. WSIU got $770,000
from Southern Illinois University in 2024 for operating revenues.
Public media also receives private donations and other support.
Senators could vote on the federal tax fund rescissions bill in the
days ahead.
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