National Public Radio President and CEO Katherine Maher has raised serious concerns about the potential impact of significant cuts to public broadcasting. In a recent interview with CBS News, Maher stated, "Defunding this is a real risk to the public safety of the country." Her comments come as the Senate voted early Thursday morning to pass a rescissions package that includes a $1.1 billion cut to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which supports NPR and PBS.

Maher emphasized the critical role that public media plays in emergency response plans across nearly half of the states in the U.S. She warned that if funding for public broadcasting is eliminated, communities would have fewer resources to respond to natural disasters in real time. "If these types of emergency alerting go away, you will have fewer outlets to be able to respond in real time," she said.

The rescissions package, which the White House requested in June, aims to cancel $9.4 billion in previously approved appropriations. It passed the House in mid-June and includes cuts to international assistance, totaling approximately $8 billion. The Senate's version of the package, which passed by a narrow vote of 51-48, also exempted $400 million in global health funding for the PEPFAR program, which combats HIV/AIDS in developing countries.

Republican Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski joined Democrats in opposing the package. Murkowski stated, "My obligation is to my constituents and to the Constitution," emphasizing the legislative branch's power over budgetary matters.

In addition to the cuts to public broadcasting, the package follows an executive order from President Trump in May, which directed the Corporation for Public Broadcasting Board to cease federal funding for NPR and PBS, citing allegations of partisan bias. Maher and PBS CEO Paula Kerger previously defended their organizations against these accusations during a House subcommittee hearing.

In her recent interview, Maher reiterated NPR's commitment to covering stories that reflect the political interests of Americans. "I take all criticism seriously, as I think any news organization should," she said. "And if there's a perception that we are not serving the full range of American political life, well we need to respond to that."

As the deadline approaches, President Trump has urged Republicans to support the rescissions package, warning that those who oppose it may lose his endorsement. He stated, "It is very important that all Republicans adhere to my Recissions Bill and, in particular, DEFUND THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING (PBS and NPR), which is worse than CNN & MSDNC put together."

Concerns about the cuts have been voiced by both Democratic and Republican senators, particularly regarding the impact on rural and Native communities. Senator Maria Cantwell warned that eliminating funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting could jeopardize access to life-saving information for millions of Americans. "We're not just putting PBS at risk here, we're putting millions of Americans who depend on local media for life-saving information [at risk]," she said.

Senator Mike Rounds, a Republican who initially expressed skepticism about the package, indicated he would support it after discussions with the White House to reallocate unused funding to tribal stations. He noted, "It will keep them in operation. It will be for one year at a time."

The urgency of the situation has been underscored by recent natural disasters, including the devastating floods in Texas that left over 130 dead. Maher pointed out that many emergency alert systems rely on public broadcasting, and cuts could severely hinder their effectiveness. She highlighted that some NPR stations depend on federal funds for more than half of their budgets, which could lead to staffing layoffs and potential station closures.

Margaret McConnell, Executive Director of WDIY, a public radio station in Pennsylvania, expressed concern about the potential loss of funding. "Losing that money would mean that we would have to make some serious decisions about do we carry NPR programming anymore because that money helps us pay for that programming," she said. Maher concluded by stating, "We lose something fundamental as a nation if public media goes away."