The most serious threat we’ve ever faced — please stand with WBUR and NPR

The following letter from WBUR CEO Margaret Low was shared with WBUR donors on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. It has been reproduced here with minimal edits.

Dear Friend,

As you may know, the White House issued a memo yesterday formally asking Congress to claw back funds that support public broadcasting.

It’s the most direct attack on WBUR — and public media — ever.

Congress has already appropriated these dollars for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) to support our work over the next two years. Lawmakers have 45 legislative days to vote on the proposal. The House is expected to vote as early as next week. A simple majority in each chamber must approve this rescission request for it to become law.

If approved, Congress will be taking an unprecedented step — ending nearly half a century of bipartisan support for public media and our service to communities across the country. In red states and blue. Nothing will take its place.

WBUR has been serving Boston and the region for 75 years and our journalism has never been stronger. At the same time, the threats we’re facing have never been greater. If rescission goes through, some of our station colleagues across the country will be forced to turn out the lights — leaving their communities without reliable news and information. WBUR will be here. But diminished. Rescission would mean the loss of millions of dollars. We’d be forced to make significant cuts, impacting our journalism and our service to Boston and the country.

Here is where we need your help. Please call your Congressional representatives and tell them why WBUR and public media are so important in your life. Calling district offices can make a big difference. Ringing phones are hard to ignore.

Ask your representatives to vote against rescission and to work across the aisle to convince fellow lawmakers to do the same.

One more thing. If you have friends and family in other states — ask them to do the same. This is our moment. It is NOT game over. We can turn this around, with your help.

As always, you can donate to WBUR here.

My colleagues and I will continue to be here for you. Thank you for being there for us.

With appreciation,

Margaret Low
Chief Executive Officer, WBUR