A federal judge in Washington permanently blocked President Donald Trump's executive order to end federal funding for National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting Service, ruling it unconstitutional.

U.S. District Judge Randolph D. Moss issued the decision on Tuesday, March 31, stating the May 2025 order, titled "Ending Taxpayer Subsidies for Bias Media," amounted to viewpoint discrimination prohibited by the First Amendment. Moss wrote that the directive singled out NPR and PBS "on the basis of their speech" and crossed a constitutional line by using government power "to punish or suppress disfavored expression." He added, "It is difficult to conceive of clearer evidence that a government action is targeted at viewpoints that the President does not like and seeks to squelch."

The order instructed all federal agencies to cease funding the broadcasters, regardless of the program's purpose, such as emergency alerts, educational content or journalist safety. Trump issued it amid long-standing Republican criticism that NPR and PBS promote left-wing bias with taxpayer dollars.

The ruling stemmed from lawsuits filed by NPR, PBS and several public radio stations, including Aspen Public Radio and Colorado Public Radio. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which distributed most federal grants to public media, had already closed after Congress rescinded $1.1 billion in funding last year as part of a $9.3 billion package requested by the White House. That congressional action, approved by the Republican-led Congress, mooted parts of the suits related to CPB and limits the decision's immediate effect on restarting funds.

White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson called the ruling "a ridiculous ruling by an activist judge attempting to undermine the law." She emphasized that "NPR and PBS have no right to receive taxpayer funds, and Congress already voted to defund them," adding the administration looks forward to "ultimate victory."

NPR President and CEO Katherine Maher hailed it as "a decisive affirmation of the rights of a free and independent press." She said public media serves Americans, not political agendas, and the government cannot use funding "as a lever to influence or penalize the press." A PBS spokesperson described the order as "textbook unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination and retaliation" and expressed thrill at the decision.

The Trump administration may appeal the permanent injunction. While the ruling protects public stations from funding cuts tied to content, any resumption would require new congressional appropriations.

This marks another court rebuke to Trump efforts targeting media perceived as unfavorable. Courts have previously restored credentials to the Associated Press and addressed other disputes.