KPBS is here for you and with you.

KPBS is an essential public service accountable to you. For 65 years, we have been at the heart of our community, delivering trusted journalism, inspiring storytelling, impactful programming and events that capture the pivotal and personal moments of our history.

In July 2025, Congress eliminated federal funding for public media. Federal funding represented 12%, or $4.3 million, of KPBS’ annual budget. This loss has been a gut punch. Especially when the work we do matters, when it educates our children and grandchildren, shapes culture, builds connection, and helps define a community, even a democracy. But we are still here.

Journalism is worth protecting. Art is worth protecting. Individual voices are worth protecting. Curiosity is worth protecting.

We are San Diego’s storyteller. KPBS is here because of you, to serve you, and with your help, we always will be.

Why KPBS is essential:

KPBS provides critical public services to our local communities in San Diego and Imperial counties. You can always count on KPBS to:

• Keep you up-to-date with fact-based, trustworthy local journalism. And our news is always freely accessible to everyone - no paywall or subscription required.
• Educate our children through exceptional programming like "Sesame Street" and "Wild Kratts" that prepares them to succeed in school
• Produce groundbreaking documentaries that explore our nation's history from Ken Burns, "American Experience," Henry Louis Gates, Jr, and more
• Provide critical emergency coverage of wildfires, earthquakes, floods and other crises to help keep you and your loved ones safe and informed
• Share local stories unique to San Diego in shows like "Ken Kramer's About San Diego," "Historic Places," "Port of Entry," and "Crossing South"
• Promote literacy and lifelong learning through our community reading program, One Book, One San Diego

Public media is a public service, built for everyone – regardless of income or ZIP code. It delivers on a promise: access to early learning for every child, life-saving alerts when it matters most, stories that preserve our shared history and culture, and trusted spaces where people come together to learn, connect, and belong.

How you can help protect public media's future

Without federal funding, KPBS is now more reliant on member support than ever before. We are facing the loss of $4.3 million from our annual budget, and we will need help from our community to fill that gap.

Other ways to support KPBS include:

• Vehicle donations
• IRA contributions
• Making a planned gift
• Becoming a corporate sponsor

Click here to learn about more ways to give.

You can also help spread the word by sharing why public media matters to you, and encourage your friends and family to become members too.

Federal Funding FAQs

Was federal funding to public media restored due to the March 31 District Court ruling on President Trump’s May 2025 Executive Order?

A district court ruled that President Trump’s May 2025 executive order against NPR and PBS was unconstitutional. The ruling agreed with NPR and PBS’ argument that the government cannot use the purse to punish or influence the press.

The court decision does not reinstate federal funding to public media. That decision was made by Congress and its passage of the Rescission Act. We remain impacted by a $4.3 million annual budget loss.

How did KPBS' federal funding work?

We received funds from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) an independent nonprofit organization that was established by Congress in order to shield public media from partisan political influence. Federal funds made up 12% of KPBS’s annual budget, about $4.3 million per year. That funding ended October 1, 2025.

Why was public media defunded?

At the request of the Trump administration, Congress has voted to rescind two years’ worth of funding that had previously been approved for public media stations across the country. This funding loss impacts KPBS’ current fiscal year and next.

The new White House administration has placed a spotlight on public media’s federal funding model and called into question its integrity and value, particularly alleging bias in NPR’s reporting. We do not believe these accusations of bias have merit. Public media serves people all across the country whose views encompass the full political spectrum, and we adhere to strict editorial processes and guidelines to ensure that our reporting is balanced and nonpartisan.

How will the loss of federal funding affect KPBS?

KPBS has been financially stable, so for the next year or two, we expect to be able to continue at the same level of service San Diego expects of us. But longer-term lack of federal support will impact our operations and difficult decisions would need to be made.

Additionally, the loss of federal funding would have a domino effect. KPBS utilizes the federal funds to pay dues to NPR and PBS for their content. If we are unable to pay these dues, we would not have access to PBS and NPR programming. The less dues PBS and NPR has from member stations, the higher the likelihood they would have to reduce their production. This impact would then go out across all stations nationwide, hampering the American people’s access to information they rely on to survive and thrive. KPBS would attempt to maintain our dues payment, but we would need to find cuts within our own operating budget.

Words from KPBS supporters