Congresswoman Harriet Hageman Votes in Favor of Historic Rescissions Package

Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Harriet Hageman joined her Republican colleagues in passing a historic rescission package, sending it to President Trump’s desk. This measure removes $1.1 billion in annual federal funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (PBS & NPR), and $7.9 billion from USAID foreign aid programs, totaling $9 billion in reclaimed taxpayer dollars. 

The Congresswoman released the following statement:  

“For too long, American families have been forced to subsidize liberal-leaning media under the guise of ‘public service.’ When NPR/PBS were started, there were few options available. There are now so many different outlets that need for government funded media has been replaced by the free market, and public media now prioritizes far-left narratives over balanced journalism. This federal funding should not support woke indoctrination in children’s programming, including, drag queen story hours, political lectures from popular characters, and anti-American messaging, when parents can choose from a vast, private media landscape,” said Congresswoman Hageman. 

“In emergency situations like the recent Texas floods, taxpayers discovered private broadcasters stepped up with immediate alerts and lifesaving updates, while NPR affiliates lagged behind, remaining silent for hours. This proves that public safety is not uniquely tied to taxpayer-funded media. 

This rescission marks our first major strike against federal waste, fraud, and abuse, and it is just the beginning. We will continue to scrutinize every dollar the federal government claims it needs. American families deserve a government that is lean, accountable, and focused on results, not politicized media subsidies.” 

Examples of what we are defunding: 

• PBS programming includes "Real Boy," a program about a trans teen, and "Our League" about a trans woman returning to her hometown
• $1 million for voter ID in Haiti
• $3 million for Iraqi Sesame Street
• $1 million for programs to strengthen the resilience of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer global movements
• PBS shows that indoctrinate children such as, “Drag Queen Story Hour”
• $33,000 for "Being LGBTI in the Caribbean"
• NPR requested and received a $1.9 million grant commitment from CPB to hire more "moderate" Editors and journalists, as they recognized their complete leftist bias
• $130 million from other IOP programs, which includes programs like UN Women, UN Panel on Climate Change, Int'l Conservation Programs, etc. 

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