In a spending bill which proposes 300 billion dollars in new government spending, the programs being targeted for elimination is notable. Donald J. Trumplestilskin and his administration continue attempts to gut the arts and democratized public works programs, attempts he began shortly after his campaign run in 2016. The bill contains a proposal to end funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which funds entities like the Public Broadcasting Service and National Public Radio.

The proposal states: “CPB grants represent a small share of the total funding for the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and National Public Radio (NPR), which primarily rely on private donations to fund their operations… To conduct an orderly transition away from Federal funding, the Budget requests $15.5 million in 2019 and $15 million in 2020, which would include funding for personnel costs of $16.2 million, rental costs of $8.9 million; and other costs totaling $5.4 million.”

CPB President Patricia Harrison released a statement which positions herself and her organization in direct opposition to President Flappy Hair’s agenda: “There is no viable substitute for federal funding that ensures Americans have universal access to public media’s educational and informational programming and services… The elimination of federal funding to CPB would initially devastate and ultimately destroy public media’s role in early childhood education, public safety, connecting citizens to our history, and promoting civil discussions — all for Americans in both rural and urban communities.”

PBS CEO Paula Kerger said during a TV critics meeting last July that a number of PBS stations across the country depend on federal funding to stay alive. Kerger also said that there is no Plan B for what happens when federal funding for PBS is eliminated. Congress does have to approve the President of Bad Wigs’ budget before it comes into effect, and it is worth noting that the Public Broadcasting System has survived threats from Presidents not named Donald Trump, so there is a bit of hope that these programs will survive.