Federal Funding Loss

July 18, 2025

Early this morning, the House passed H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025, by a vote of 216-213. The bill claws back 1.1 billion dollars in funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. CPB funded public radio and TV stations. CPB may go bankrupt later this year, ending nearly 60 years of public funding for public broadcasting.

It’s important to note that WEKU received $240,000 annually from CPB to help fund rural infrastructure and pay for national programming. This is 15% of our total budget. We are working hard to manage these cuts and continue to provide the level of service you depend on.

I wanted to personally thank you for your advocacy and support over the past months as we worked to retain this funding. Unfortunately, that was not able to be done.

Despite the funding loss, I see a bright future ahead for WEKU. The station has been adjusting expenses over the past two years to mitigate some of the funding loss. And thanks to supporters like you, WEKU is seeing an increase in individual donors and an increase in monthly gifts from existing donors.

WEKU’s 1850 campaign is our response to the federal funding loss. 1850 new supporters giving at least $10 a month would make up for most of the $240,000 annual loss of funds. I am pleased to report we are 33% of the way to this ambitious goal. We are now 1,250 new donors away from hitting this important goal.

Important ways you can help:

Join our 1850 campaign and encourage your friends who listen to become WEKU supporters.
Join WEKU’s Leadership Circle at $100 a month. If 100 listeners became Leadership Circle Donors, that would mean $120,000 a year of funding to the station. That’s half of the $240,000 federal funding loss!
Increase your monthly gift to WEKU and ask your friends to do the same.
Give a donor-advised fund gift
Business owners – become a WEKU Sponsor – Business support makes up nearly 20% of WEKU’s budget. Help us by getting your business or organization’s message on the air.

If you would like to discuss WEKU funding and how these cuts affect the station and what you can do to help, please get in touch with me directly at mike.savage@eku.edu or 859-622-1662.

Thank you so much for your advocacy and support of WEKU. I am so grateful for your support.

Mike Savage

WEKU Director & General Manager