PBS Reno Issues Response to
U.S. Senate Passing Rescissions Act of 2025
The Rescissions Act of 2025 results in serious cuts to stations’ local services and in some cases
the total closure of television and radio stations, particularly in rural communities
RENO, NV (JUL 17, 2025) – Earlier today, the U.S. Senate voted to approve H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025, rescinding $8 billion for foreign aid and $1.1 billion for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which funds more than 1,500 radio and television stations including PBS Reno.
This legislation passed by a vote of 51-48, with all Democrats present voting against the legislation, along with the following Republicans: U.S. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine and U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska. The measure now returns to the House of Representatives for a final vote.
Federal funding for PBS Reno and more than 300 public media television stations across the country will end September 30, 2025, once the measure is signed by President Trump.
“We are beyond disappointed that despite the work of U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen, a majority of the Senate has decided to ignore the will of the American people and vote to defund public broadcasting,” said Kurt Mische, PBS Reno President and CEO. “Due to this action, thousands of Nevada’s families may lose access to the quality educational programs, services and emergency alerting notices provided by public television. This decision will have a negative impact on the quality of life in our state.”
Kate Riley, President and CEO of America’s Public Television Stations, issued a statement saying in part:
“America’s Public Television Stations are devastated that the Senate voted to eliminate federal funding to the local public television stations throughout this country that provide essential lifesaving public safety services, proven educational services and community connections to their communities every day for free,” said Riley. “This destructive rescission of Corporation for Public Broadcasting funding – the substantial majority of which goes to local stations per statutory formula – will result in immediate and serious cuts to stations’ local services and in some cases the total closure of stations, particularly in rural communities. Public broadcasting is a lifeline in hundreds of communities where there is no other source of local media.”
Roughly 542,000 people tune into PBS Reno each month to watch PBS News Hour, Finding Your Roots, Antiques Roadshow, and trusted children’s programming; along with Wild Nevada, ARTEFFECTS, and other award-earning local productions. PBS Reno also provides nearly 7,000 free Curiosity Classroom workshops to more than 135,000 students in nine counties in northern and central Nevada and northeastern California. All of this work is the result of financial contributions from viewers, corporate support, and grants along with support from federal and state governments. This private-public blend of financial support is unique, effective, and has allowed PBS Reno and more than 300 other public televisions to operate for decades.
About PBS Reno
As of November 2024, PBS Reno is enjoyed by more than 540,000 monthly viewers in northern and central Nevada and northeastern California across several platforms including three broadcast channels (PBS Reno 5.1, Reno Create 5.2, and PBS KIDS on PBS Reno 5.3), a YouTube channel, YouTube TV, online, livestreams, and digital platforms. PBS Reno provides PBS national programming and award-earning, locally-produced content, with many local segments posted weekly to PBS Reno’s YouTube Channel. PBSReno.org provides engaging interactive content, including the video portal at watch.PBSReno.org that streams all locally-produced content and most PBS national content. PBS Reno serves students, teachers, parents and caregivers through immersive educational services including Curiosity Classroom Workshops that bring classroom lessons to life with standards-based lessons and activities. Through the support of local corporations and foundations, as well as thousands of individual members, PBS Reno has been delivering public television and educational services to the communities it serves since September 29, 1983.
About APTS
America’s Public Television Stations (APTS) is a nonprofit membership organization ensuring a strong and financially sound public television system and helping member stations provide essential public services in education, public safety and community connections to their local areas and the American people. For more information, visit www.apts.org.
Contact us:
Membership Questions: membership@pbsreno.org
Programming Hotline: programming@pbsreno.org
Phone: 775.600.0555
Address: 1670 N. Virginia St. • Reno NV 89503