Congress has approved a final Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 funding package, and core funding for local public media stations was not restored. While this outcome is deeply disappointing, it’s not the full story.

Thanks to sustained advocacy from communities across the country, bipartisan support for restoring local public media station funding grew during final negotiations and remained on the table until the very end.

Congress Recognized the Importance of Local Public Media Stations’ Services

Even in a difficult fiscal environment, Congress recognized the importance of protecting critical services local public media stations provide every day.

As a direct result of sustained outreach from grassroots advocates:

• Lawmakers preserved funding for stations’ early educational programming in the FY 2026 funding package.
• Vital public safety funding was maintained through a short-term funding measure.

These protections were far from guaranteed and reflect growing recognition of the role local public media stations play in education, emergency response, and community connection.

A Historic Year of Advocacy for Local Stations

This past year has been the hardest public media stations have ever faced. Yet at every turn, our network of supporters showed up in record numbers – calling, emailing, signing petitions, and spreading the word.

That collective effort ensured the issue of local station funding stayed on lawmakers’ radar when it could have been easily sidelined. Americans from every corner of the country continued to show overwhelming support for their local public media stations and made clear that they expect Congress to protect them.

What Advocates Accomplished and Why It Matters

While core station funding was not restored this cycle, advocates proved just how powerful a community of neighbors can be.

Advocates’ actions:

• Pushed the issue of local public media funding forward
• Secured critical support for local early education and public safety services
• Built a strong foundation to restore the support local stations depend on to inform, educate, and serve communities nationwide

These accomplishments strengthen the position of local public media station funding heading into the next funding cycle.

What Happens Next for Local Public Media Stations?

The Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 funding cycle is nearing completion, with Congress still negotiating the FY 2026 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. Once that legislation is finalized, lawmakers will turn their attention to the FY 2027 funding cycle, and the fight to protect local public media stations continues.

Protect My Public Media will keep fighting until no community is at risk of losing a local public media station and Congress restores the support stations need to serve their communities.

We couldn’t be prouder to stand with our community of neighbors who made this progress possible, and we won’t stop fighting until no community is at risk of losing its local public radio or television station. Together, we will save our stations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Was funding for local public media stations restored in FY 2026?

No. Core station funding was not restored, but key education and public safety programs were preserved.

Did grassroots advocacy make a difference?

Yes. Bipartisan support grew, funding protections were secured, and local public media stayed on the table in final negotiations.

Is the fight over?

No. Grassroots advocacy efforts are continuing to restore funding in FY 2027.