Protect the WILL stations you trust and value.

What's the latest update?

• Funding Rescission ("Clawback") Proposal: In the coming days, the White House is expected to formally submit a rescission request to Congress. If approved, the request would rescind funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) previously authorized by Congress in the continuing resolution passed on March 15. Once this request is submitted to Capitol Hill, it will trigger a 45-day window during which Congress must decide whether to reverse the funding or allow it to proceed. It would only take a simple majority in the House and Senate to pass the rescission request.

What are the potential impacts of the Funding Rescission ("Clawback") Proposal passing Congress?

• $1.5 Million in Cuts: Our WILL stations currently receive around $1.5 million annually from the CPB. This is about 20% of our annual budget, which provides a foundation for our operations, including our ability to raise additional funds.
• Federal Funding is Irreplaceable: Though it only represents .01% of the federal budget (or about $1.60 per person annually), federal funding provides a stable foundation for public media. Community support cannot replace essential federal funding.
• Immediate Impact on Programming: A rescission of previously approved federal funding for public media will hurt our ability to provide essential local news and community engagement, as well as exceptional state, national, and international programming.
• Reduction in Local Media Outlets: In many Illinois communities, public media stations including IPM are among the last remaining locally managed media outlets. Public media stations serve 99% of the U.S. population, including the individuals and families in rural and remote areas in our vast coverage area.
• Eroding Public Safety: Public media outlets like IPM provide critical early warning alerts to keep you safe. Experts in our newsroom provide clear guidance during crises when it matters most. Our emergency communications are for everyone, including rural and remote communities - with no paywalls. Federal investment through the CPB enables IPM to serve as a vital communications hub for local, state, and federal public safety officials when emergencies threaten life and property.
• Preserving the Culture of Our Region: IPM showcases local arts, captures and preserves the unique culture of central Illinois, provides important daily updates to area farmers, and brings communities together through live events and opportunities for connection. Our ability to contribute to the region's vibrancy and connectedness would be hindered if federal funds were rescinded.
• Educational Opportunities for All: IPM provides trusted educational resources for learners of all ages that are commercial-free, research-based, and free to all. Loss of federal funding could result in reductions or elimination of vital educational programming for hundreds of thousands of children in central Illinois.

What can I do to support IPM?

• Urge Congress to Act: Click here to contact your House Representative and Senators. Share what public media means to you and our community. Ask them to protect existing federal funding and prevent future attempts to cut funding for essential public media services.
• Share Your Story: Write a testimonial on how public media has impacted you or someone you know. Share your story on platforms like Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and LinkedIn. Use #ProtectMyPublicMedia and include a link to this page: will.illinois.edu/protectwill.
• Spread the Word: Encourage friends, family, and colleagues to join in advocating for the future of public media. Ask them to share your posts, and posts from IPM and Protect My Public Media.
• Sign Up for Newsletters: Subscribe to IPM's newsletters to stay updated on threats to federal funding as they unfold.
• Make a Donation at willgive.org: Your gift of any amount will help us build a financial firewall to defend against current attacks and increase our preparedness for future efforts to undermine essential federal funding for public media.

A message from Moss Bresnahan, IPM's Executive Director

At Illinois Public Media, we’ve always been here for you—with trusted local news, inspiring music, thoughtful conversations, and programs that bring our community together. But now, that mission is at serious risk. The White House has asked Congress to rescind previously authorized funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. For us, that’s about $1.5 million each year. And without it, the programs and outreach you count on could be drastically altered. We know local public media matters to you, so we encourage you to share your opinion on this impending vote with your members of congress and your fellow community members. With your help, we can preserve Illinois Public Media’s important role as a cornerstone of the central Illinois community.