Federal judge finds Trump violated free speech by ordering NPR and PBS defunded

NPR | By Scott Neuman,

Leila Fadel

Published April 1, 2026 at 4:41 AM EDT

A federal judge has ruled that a Trump administration executive order involving NPR and PBS violates the broadcasters' First Amendment rights.

Scott Neuman

Scott Neuman is a reporter and editor, working mainly on breaking news for NPR's digital and radio platforms.

Leila Fadel

Leila Fadel is a national correspondent for NPR based in Los Angeles, covering issues of culture, diversity, and race.

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