July 18, 2026

July 18th marks the one-year anniversary of the elimination of federal funding for public media. The decision by Congress, later signed into law by President Trump, removed about 9% of OPB’s annual operating budget.

The incredible silver lining during this difficult time was the power of our members stepping up. You made up our losses from the first year and came together as a community of more than 170,000 member households to put us on strong footing for the future.

You may be wondering: What’s next for public media? The outlook remains highly uncertain. Many of our peers have been forced to make cuts to staff and services.

Yet in this moment, public media organizations are forging a path forward, together. I’m energized to have joined the PBS Board of Directors in June and look forward to working with this terrific group. We’re collaborating across our organizations to make the most of our resources and learnings.

At a PBS meeting in May, I saw so much energy and determination from stations across the country. Most of all, I heard gratitude for our communities. You are still stepping up for us one year later.

Federal funding cuts aren’t the only challenge we face. Local journalism is in crisis, and newspapers that once were the bedrock for trusted information face steep job losses and even closures. AI has introduced new complexities for connecting people with factual, original reporting.

In this moment, our mission calls us to do more. And with your help, we are. Last month, we welcomed two new reporters who will strengthen our news coverage in important areas of our region.

Monica Carrillo-Casas will cover Eastern Oregon from La Grande, and Elena Neal-Sacks will join our Southwest Washington news bureau. These talented journalists are essential additions to our growing regional news operation as we report on key developments, hold our institutions accountable, and illustrate the connections between communities across Oregon and the Pacific Northwest.

With your support, we’ll deliver more in-depth, trusted news and stories—and reach people of all ages and backgrounds. In this time of division, we need to make space for people to come together and build understanding.

I’ve been honored to hear from communities coming together during recent listening sessions in Newport, Western Oregon University, Eastern Oregon University, Enterprise, and the Tamástslikt Cultural Institute in Pendleton. In Lake County, we partnered with the nonprofit In a Landscape to meet community members who attended Hunter Noack’s beautiful outdoor concerts, including at PLAYA in Summer Lake.

It’s only with your partnership that we can take on the challenges that we face. Thank you for being there for OPB—and for everyone who relies on us—during this pivotal moment.

With gratitude,

— Rachel Smolkin, President and CEO of Oregon Public Broadcasting