Bloodbath brews at NPR due to federal funding cut as 300 buyouts offered

NPR is slashing jobs and restructuring its newsroom as the public-radio giant grapples with a financial crunch fueled by federal funding cuts, weakening station revenue and dramatic changes in how Americans consume news.The nonprofit broadcaster told staff this week that roughly 300 employees, mostly on newsgathering desks, are eligible for voluntary buyouts as executives scramble to close an $8 million budget gap.NPR management expects only about 30 employees to accept the buyouts voluntarily, meaning layoffs in the 425-strong newsroom could follow if too few workers opt in.The downsizing comes during a grim moment for the news biz, with the Washington Post seeing brutal cuts and CBS News launching layoffs earlier this year.NPR’s crisis traces back at least to last summer, when Congress voted to eliminate roughly $1.1 billion in funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, dealing a massive blow to local stations that pay NPR for programming.Though NPR has long said direct federal grants account for less than 1% of its budget, the organization depends heavily on fees from member stations, many of which are now under severe financial strain.NPR CEO Katherine Maher told staff the organization expects a $15 million drop in station-fee revenue while sponsorship revenue is also softening amid economic uncertainty and declining radio listening.The exec has become a lightning rod for conservatives, who have accused her of bringing lefty politics into public broadcasting.Maher, a former chief of Wikimedia Foundation who took over NPR in 2024, has drawn backlash for past comments describing the First Amendment as “the number one challenge” in combating misinformation, as well as old social-media posts criticizing President Trump and echoing progressive activist rhetoric.Her leadership became a focal point in the broader conservative campaign against NPR after longtime editor Uri Berliner accused the outlet of ideological groupthink and liberal bias in a widely...