CPB: CSG grants are safe. NGWS grants may also be OK.
Community Service Grants were not impacted by the now-rescinded executive order. EAS (NGWS) grants may also be OK.
With the recent executive order from the White House that placed a temporary pause on federal grant funds, there was concern by noncommercial radio stations on whether it would impact qualified stations from receiving their Community Service Grants (CSGs) and Next Generation Warning System (NGWS) grants.
In a letter from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting at around 11AM today (January 29, 2025), they have advised stations in respect to CSGs:
The White House Office of Management and Budget has placed a temporary pause on disbursement of federal grant funds (“Memorandum for Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies regarding Temporary Pause of Agency Grant, Loan, and Other Financial Assistance Programs”). Funds appropriated by Congress to CPB for distribution to public media licensees, including Community Service Grants (CSGs), are not affected by the White House budget office’s order. CPB will release second CSG payments, as usual, in mid-March to grantees that have submitted their required annual reports to CPB.
In respect to NGWS grants:
CPB is reviewing the memorandum issued by the White House Office of Management and Budget placing a temporary pause on disbursement of federal grant funds (“Memorandum for Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies regarding Temporary Pause of Agency Grant, Loan, and Other Financial Assistance Programs”). Two federal grant programs administered by CPB are impacted: the Next Generation Warning System (NGWS) grant funded through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Ready to Learn (RTL) grant funded through the Department of Education. We are in contact with both agencies, and we are waiting to hear further information on how the White House budget office’s order will affect these grant programs. As soon as we have this information, we will share it with our grantees.
Later in the day, there have been further developments. CNN reports that The White House has rescinded a memo on the federal aid freeze. In the new memo, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has announced that OMB Memorandum M-25-13, which advised of the freeze has been rescinded.
According to CNN, the President’s executive orders freezing foreign assistance and ending diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, remain in effect.
While we have not received an official confirmation from CPB or FEMA, we believe that today’s OMB memo means that the NGWS grants will not be adversely affected.
Like with everything going on in DC right now, this is a fluid situation. If we receive more information, we will announce it.