PBS Poll Reveals Most Trump Voters Support Federal Funding as House DOGE Panel Considers Budget Reductions
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, chair of the DOGE panel, expressed to The Epoch Times that she is neither surprised nor swayed by the survey findings.
Under the leadership of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, House Republicans are rapidly advancing a campaign to diminish or eliminate funding for public broadcasters National Public Radio (NPR) and Public Broadcasting System (PBS).
A YouGov survey conducted on behalf of PBS in January reveals differing views regarding federal funding among voters supporting President Donald Trump’s possible return to office.
The survey—conducted with over 2,000 participants, including 792 self-identified Trump supporters—indicates that 65 percent of these Trump supporters believe that “federal funding for PBS is about right or too little.”
Among various programming types provided by PBS, the least favored was films and documentaries, which garnered support from 57 percent of Trump voters, while science, history, and nature programming was rated the most favorable at 81 percent.
Greene, a lawmaker hailing from Georgia and chair of the Delivering on Government Efficiency (DOGE) Subcommittee within the House Oversight and Accountability Committee (HOAC), shared with The Epoch Times that the YouGov results do not surprise her.
“It’s not surprising that an internal poll conducted by PBS would yield conclusions that align with their interests. Did they inquire how many so-called Trump supporters actually engage with their content?” she stated.
Related Stories
Greene indicated her intention to carry out “my own survey among my X followers, genuine Trump supporters, to gauge their opinions on PBS funding.”
“Such biases betray the principles of objective journalism and erode public confidence. As an organization that receives taxpayer funding via its member stations, PBS ought to deliver content that serves the broad public interest, rather than a narrow demographic of aligned individuals and ideological factions,” Greene told Kerger.
U.S. House Minority Whip Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) speaks to the media on Capitol Hill in Washington on Dec. 21, 2011. Alex Wong/Getty Images
Republican members of Congress have consistently criticized what they perceive as biased reporting from the two federally funded media organizations.
Former House Majority Leader Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) commented to The Epoch Times that Greene’s hearing is part of a broader effort by Trump to “intimidate, discredit, and financially sabotage journalists and news organizations whose reporting contradicts his personal viewpoint.”
“I will persist in opposing all moves aimed at undermining the free press, as well as our nonpartisan, merit-based civil service,” Hoyer affirmed.
Hoyer, who has represented a Maryland district with a large number of federal employees since 1981, is not part of the DOGE subcommittee. However, due to his position on the House Appropriations Committee, he plays a significant role in this ongoing controversy.
As the ranking member of the appropriations panel’s subcommittee overseeing financial services and general government, he previously served as House Majority Leader from 2007 to 2011 and as House Majority Whip from 2003 to 2007 and again from 2011 to 2019.
A spokesperson for Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), who is the ranking member of HOAC, did not respond to The Epoch Times’ inquiry for comments.
A date for the hearing has yet to be determined, but it is anticipated to take place before the end of March.
