In July, Congress passed a recission package that included $1.1 billion in cuts to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. PBS and NPR stations across the country, including WUKY, lost revenue that federal lawmakers had previously allocated. President Trump signed the bill into law, prompting CPB to decrease operations by the end of this September.
“Unfortunately, with the loss of federal funding, there is no way around the need for significant budget reductions. It is a sad but unavoidable situation for our dedicated team, and the loss will affect operations throughout the agency,” said Shae Hopkins, executive director and CEO. “However, even during this difficult time, KET remains as committed as ever to serving Kentuckians across the Commonwealth.”
According to their website, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting distributed more than 70% of its funding to more than 1,500 locally owned public radio and television stations.