U.S. Representative Kathy Castor is condemning the Trump administration’s Federal Rescissions Act, which slashes funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). As a result, CPB is pulling back on its Next Generation Warning Systems (NGWS) grants.

The NGWS program was designed to strengthen storm-warning infrastructure in underserved and disaster-prone areas of Florida. In 2022, CPB awarded 44 grants totaling $21.6 million. Demand far outpaced supply: during the second round of funding, 175 stations applied for $110 million in assistance.

“This is one more example of rescission consequences impacting local public media stations and the communities they serve,” said Patricia Harrison, CPB President and CEO. “In this case, it weakens their ability to support safety and preparedness.”

Castor warned that these cuts put lives at risk. On X (formerly Twitter), she wrote, “My neighbors rely on the radio to get emergency alerts during hurricanes. When your power is out, radio broadcasts are lifesaving.”

She later added, “I am deeply disturbed by President Trump’s decision to eliminate the Next Generation Warning System, which is critical to rural areas during these storms. My colleagues across Florida should be outraged and join me in demanding that funding be reinstated.”

Not every station required an NGWS grant. WUSF, housed on USF’s Tampa campus, remains insulated (sort of). WUSF General Manager JoAnn Urofsky told Poliverse, “At WUSF, we equipped our stations to be able to respond to emergencies before the NGWS program. Therefore, we didn’t need to take advantage of the grant.”

While WUSF doesn’t require NGWS, they were still significantly impacted, losing a reported $800,000 in funds, and are asking supporters to help keep their critical operations going. WUSF delivers wall-to-wall emergency coverage during hurricanes, staying on the air with updates, advisories, and live reports. 

Many rural and high-risk areas, however, are more prone, losing out on NGWS grants, right as another hurricane season approaches. Without CPB funding, FEMA may be forced to shoulder greater responsibility, but threats to FEMA’s budget may stem that option, too.

Castor’s office confirmed she is preparing legislative action, with updates expected in the weeks ahead.