NPR Receives Wins $36M in Operating Funds

November 21, 2025 – A newly approved court settlement will restore $36 million in federal funding to NPR, ensuring continued operation of the Public Radio Satellite System, the backbone infrastructure that delivers programming to stations nationwide. The agreement resolves a high-profile dispute between NPR and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which had moved to shift the funding to a different entity. NPR challenged that decision in court, arguing it jeopardized the reliability of public radio and was influenced by political pressure.

Under the settlement, the money will again be directed to NPR, which has operated the national satellite network for decades. In exchange, NPR agreed to waive satellite service fees for local stations for two years, easing the financial strain on small and mid-sized outlets that rely heavily on federal support. The restored funding will maintain the technical system that distributes national news, cultural programming, emergency communications, and public service content.

The impact will be felt across Texas, home to one of the nation’s largest networks of public radio stations. Outlets in cities like Austin, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and dozens of rural regions depend on the satellite system to receive national programming and transmit statewide news collaborations. Fee waivers and stable infrastructure funding are expected to help Texas stations preserve local journalism, avoid service cuts, and maintain uninterrupted broadcast coverage, particularly in rural stretches where public radio is often the only free, reliable news source.