A Message from Bert Schmidt, President & CEO of WHRO Public Media

WHRO Statement: District Court Ruling on Trump Executive Order

Dear WHRO Community,

You may have recently seen news coverage about a court ruling related to federal funding for public media. We want to take a moment to clarify what this decision means for WHRO—and what it does not.

A federal judge ruled that a 2025 executive order to defund NPR and PBS violated First Amendment protections. This is a meaningful win for free speech and an independent press. However, it does not change the current funding reality for public media stations. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), the system that distributed the funds to local member stations like WHRO, no longer exists. And, most importantly, federal funding has not been restored.

This legal ruling does not change the current financial reality we face. Stations across the country—including WHRO—must still plan for the reality of no federal support.

If you’d like to learn more about the court ruling, here is a helpful article.

What remains unchanged is our commitment to you and to Eastern Virginia. WHRO will continue to provide trusted journalism, educational resources, and inspiring programming that informs, connects, and enriches our community. But we can only do that with the support of our community. Your membership is more essential than ever.

We remain committed to being transparent with you about what this means for WHRO, including the specific impact on our budget and how your support helps sustain the programs and services you value most.

Thank you for continuing to stand with WHRO during this critical time.

Sincerely,
Bert