NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Nashville Public Radio told News 2 there will be an immediate impact if Congress passes President Donald Trump's rescission package.

The proposal aims to eliminate over $1 billion from NPR and PBS. Trump gave Republicans an ultimatum if they don’t vote in favor of his funding cuts.

"We use Studio B for all of our live broadcasts and also for news presentations," Kenda Lovecchio, vice president of development at Nashville Public Radio, said.

Nashville Public Radio has been a part of Middle Tennessee for more than 60 years.  

"We're 90.3 WPLN News and 91.1, your music discovery station," Lovecchio said.  

After spending decades relying on listeners, those at Nashville Public Radio now fear they're being silenced.  

"I absolutely feel that there's been a threat to public broadcasting, and also to the industry," Lovecchio said. 

NPR and PBS are both threatened as Trump pushes to take back over $1 billion of federal funding from the public broadcasters.

"I think it's very unfair, it's been very biased...it's a waste of money," the president has said in the past.

On Thursday, July 10, Trump wrote, in part, on Truth Social, "Any Republican that votes to allow this monstrosity to continue broadcasting will not have my support or Endorsement."

U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) appears to be in support. She posted on X Thursday afternoon that the rescission package would cut $9.4 billion in "wasteful spending" in order to "save taxpayer dollars and streamline the federal government's work."

Meanwhile, Nashville Public Radio would lose $400,000 a year, which is 5% of its annual budget.

"The commitment that we receive through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting has been guaranteed. It's been something that's provided to us on an annual basis, and so it is a critical time because we are in need of finding a way to cover that lack," Lovecchio said. 

According to Lovecchio, the majority of funding comes from individuals in the community and corporate sponsorships. She added that support is needed now more than ever.  

"This is a threat that further challenges our position, our field, our industry, and we feel that it's just critical to local journalism to maintain the support from our community in order for us to continue and to thrive," Lovecchio said.  

You can help Nashville Public Radio by visiting its website.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/nashville/a-threat-to-public-broadcasting-nashville-public-radio-fears-funding-cuts-to-npr-pbs/