MOLINE, ILLINOIS (June 5, 2025) — The White House submitted a formal request to Congress to eliminate $1.1 billion in funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which supports more than 1,500 public-media stations across the country. This includes your local Quad City station, WQPT PBS. If Congress approves the rescission package, it would eliminate the federal investment that powers the essential services you count on WQPT PBS to provide every day, including programming and outreach that educate, inform, and connect communities across our region.
“Public broadcasting enhances our university mission and the communities we serve,” said Western Illinois University President Dr Kristi Mindrup. “We stand in strong support of WQPT and urge Congress to reject rescission of federal funding for public broadcasting.”
In response to this extraordinary moment, Dawn Schmitt, WQPT General Manager, issued the following statement:
“Although federal funding cuts are not yet approved by Congress, the request from the Administration signals a significant escalation in efforts to defund public media. This is a credible threat to our work, jeopardizing essential services that inform and unite Americans. For decades, stations like WQPT have been trusted sources of reporting, civil discourse, and lifelong learning. In the Quad City region, public media plays a vital role in daily life. Our programming supports classrooms, brings trusted information into your home, and offers a place where local voices and stories can be heard. In light of this news, WQPT is joining an emergency campaign to help safeguard the services our local community depends on. We’re still here, still broadcasting, and more dedicated than ever to our mission of public service. But we truly need community support.”
WQPT's mission remains unwavering: To inform, engage, and serve every member of our community. For more information, please go to protectmypublicmedia.org to contact your legislators in support of WQPT, your local PBS station.
WQPT is a public media service of Western Illinois University.
