PBS has filed a federal lawsuit challenging an executive order issued by President Donald Trump that seeks to cut off federal funding for public broadcasting. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Washington, alleges that the administration’s actions violate the First Amendment and unlawfully interfere with the operations of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB).

The suit, brought jointly by PBS and its member station in Northern Minnesota, Lakeland PBS, accuses the administration of viewpoint discrimination, illegal retaliation, and infringement on press freedom. It also claims violations of the Administrative Procedure Act, which governs how federal agencies develop and implement regulations.

PBS’s legal action follows similar challenges from National Public Radio (NPR) and the CPB, all aiming to block the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle federal support for public media—support that dates back to the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967.

According to the lawsuit, the executive order makes clear that federal funds are being withheld due to dissatisfaction with the content of PBS programming. “The EO makes no attempt to hide the fact that it is cutting off the flow of funds to PBS because of the content of PBS programming and out of a desire to alter the content of speech,” the complaint reads. “That is blatant viewpoint discrimination and an infringement of PBS and PBS Member Stations’ private editorial discretion.”

President Trump signed the executive order aboard Air Force One on May 1, directing the CPB to “cease direct funding to NPR and PBS.” A White House fact sheet said the order would block federal support to the maximum extent permitted by law. It also bars local stations and other CPB fund recipients from using federal funds to support PBS or NPR indirectly.

Additionally, the order directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and other relevant agencies to investigate whether PBS and NPR have engaged in discriminatory practices.

The White House claims the order is justified, stating that NPR and PBS have used taxpayer dollars to “fuel partisanship and left-wing propaganda.” The executive order accuses both networks of failing to provide “fair, accurate, unbiased and nonpartisan news”—a charge both organizations strongly deny.

PBS argues that if the order is allowed to take effect, it would severely undermine the network’s ability to provide diverse, accessible programming to audiences nationwide. “The executive order would have profound impacts on the ability of PBS and PBS Member Stations to provide a rich tapestry of programming to all Americans,” the lawsuit states.

The legal battle marks a major escalation in the Trump administration’s ongoing clash with public media, raising significant constitutional questions about government funding and editorial independence.