ITVS Responds to Rescission Vote

[July 18, 2025] Carrie Lozano, President and CEO of the Independent Television Service (ITVS), issued the following statement in response to Congress' vote clawing back congressional approved funding for public media.

Congress’ decision to pass the rescission package that removes the $1.1B of previously approved federal funds for the Corporation of Public Broadcasting is deeply disappointing and poses a significant challenge to public media, including ITVS.

This move jeopardizes the essential infrastructure that serves all Americans with independent storytelling, educational programming, trusted local journalism, and public safety systems—pillars of a healthy democracy. Recent polling shows that the American people value these pillars across party lines, and we will work to restore the funding that protects them. 

Despite this setback, ITVS remains committed to continuing our work to make sure all American voices are valued, shared, and preserved. We remain steadfast in supporting documentaries currently in production, and the Emmy Award-winning Independent Lens series will continue into 2026. As we work with policymakers to restore these critical funds, future funds for new documentaries remain uncertain. 

PBS is not a luxury. It is a vital public good that informs, educates, and connects communities, especially those too often overlooked or underserved. 

ITVS is an essential part of that public good. The independent producers and local partners that we work with reflect the full tapestry of our country, uplift voices, and strengthen community bonds. While today a slim majority in Congress decided to cancel funding for this important work, it has the power to restore funds for the public media system in the months to come.

[June 13, 2025] Carrie Lozano, President and CEO of the Independent Television Service (ITVS), issued the following statement in response to the House’s vote to strip congressional approved funding for public media.

Let's be clear: this action to defund public media is aimed at destroying nearly six decades of a public service that hundreds of millions of Americans rely on annually. The House vote to pass the Administration’s rescission request strips congressionally approved funding from public media for Fiscal Year 2026 and 2027. This means that ITVS, CPB, PBS, NPR, and more than 1,500 community-based stations would lose federal funding on September 30, 2025. These public media organizations serve as a trusted source of news, education, emergency alerts and programming in every corner of this country. The Senate now has 36 days to decide whether it will cancel this essential funding.

For more than 35 years, ITVS and the independent voices that it supports have been a part of people’s lives throughout the U.S.  ITVS was created by Congress to bring consequential content to audiences and to help tell the story of all Americans, without compromise. The documentaries we support are made by, about, and for people from every community. Defunding public media would disrupt the daily lives of the 99% of Americans who have access to this crucial program. The Senate must take time to carefully consider defunding a program that touches nearly every American. What’s at stake requires more meaningful dialogue than the rescission process allows for.

We call on the Senate and the American people to voice their support for free access to trusted media that amplifies their diverse voices and the voices of their communities. We stand with our partners CPB, PBS, the National Multicultural Alliance, Reel South, the hundreds of co-producers and local stations we work with, and the thousands of independent small business owners who dedicate their lives to producing media that matters.

Despite efforts to divide us, we see a nation hungry for connection and stories where people see their own experiences reflected and help them learn or get to know someone new. ITVS remains committed to bringing untold stories to the American people, as we help fulfill public media’s promise to provide trusted programming, education, and local services that are insulated from commercial and political headwinds, benefiting all.

Your support has never been more important. Make sure your voice is heard by visiting protectmypublicmedia.org for quick and easy ways to contact your senators.