The Corporation for Public Broadcasting has amended its bylaws regarding the removal of members of its Board of Directors.
The CPB, which overseas top taxpayer funded outlets like NPR and PBS, this week passed a measure which now states “no Director may be removed from the Board by any person or authority, including the President of the United States, without a two-thirds vote of the other Directors confirming such removal.”
The inclusion of president of the United States comes as Trump has been vocally critical of public broadcasters, which he and other conservatives have alleged are biased against them in news coverage and urged Republican lawmakers to strip federal funding from the outlets.
Last month, GOP lawmakers grilled NPR CEO Katherine Maher and PBS head Paula Kerger over the outlet’s editorial direction and funding models.
Maher earlier this week published a memo reiterating NPR’s commitment to “serve the entire nation,” and listen more closely to a more politically “diverse” audience.
The CPB Board of Directors governs, sets policy, and establishes funding priorities for the corporation. Board members are nominated by the president and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. A full board term runs for six years.