WBHM, Birmingham’s public radio station, will lose 10% of its annual operating budget following a bill passed by Congress.
$1.1 Billion Cut Hits Public Media Nationwide
Lawmakers voted to rescind $1.1 billion in funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, part of a broader $9 billion rollback that also included $7.9 billion in foreign aid. The bill passed the House by a narrow 216–213 margin, with support from nearly all Republicans and opposition from every Democrat.
In Alabama, the state’s five Republican House members—Robert Aderholt, Barry Moore, Gary Palmer, Mike Rogers, and Dale Strong—all voted in favor of the bill. Reps. Shomari Figures and Terri Sewell, the state’s two Democrats, voted no.
“This is a devastating decision for the millions of people who rely on public media every single day, including those in and around the heart of Alabama,” said WBHM Executive Director Will Dahlberg.
WBHM Faces $400,000 Budget Gap
Dahlberg said the cut will leave WBHM with a $400,000 budget shortfall over the next two years. The station, which has long relied on a combination of federal support and local contributions, will now turn almost entirely to the community to fill the gap.
“Community support has always been the backbone of public media, and now it’s everything,” Dahlberg said. “Our mission won’t change, even if the formula for how we carry it out does.”
Alabama Public Television will also be significantly impacted, losing just over $2.8 million, which represents approximately 13% of its operating budget, according to Executive Director Wayne Reid.
Political Divide Highlights Future Challenges
The legislation reflects growing political divides over public media funding. Rep. Dale Strong defended his vote, writing on social media, “I’ve long called for NPR’s funding to be cut — your taxpayer dollars shouldn’t be used to promote left-wing propaganda.”
With the bill passed just before the funding release deadline, public media outlets like WBHM are now preparing for a future with fewer resources—and a deeper reliance on community support to continue their service.
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