Trump administration pushes to remove CPB board members amid legal battle
- The Trump administration filed a lawsuit against Laura Ross, Diane Kaplan, and Tom Rothman, attempting to enforce the president's right to remove CPB board members.
- The lawsuit follows a failed attempt by these board members to challenge their dismissals, claiming CPB’s independence from presidential control.
- The outcome of this dispute will determine the extent of presidential power over public broadcasting entities in the U.S.
In the United States, the Justice Department filed a lawsuit to remove three board members of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) amid an ongoing controversy over President Donald Trump’s authority to manage the board. This case comes after Trump attempted to fire Laura Ross, Diane Kaplan, and Tom Rothman on April 28, 2020, as part of his broader strategy to exert control over public media and combat perceived biases against his administration. The administration argues that the president must possess the power to select and remove federal officeholders in line with executive authority outlined in Article II of the Constitution. Despite the Trump administration’s efforts, the three board members resisted their dismissals, claiming that CPB operates independently as a private corporation authorized by Congress in 1967 and is not subject to the president's authority. After their attempt at a preliminary injunction was rejected by a federal judge in June 2020, the board members celebrated the ruling as a reinforcement of their independence, asserting that they would continue to serve. In their arguments, they highlighted the lack of legal provisions allowing for immediate firings, suggesting that the incumbent board has the authority to manage its membership. As tensions escalated, the lawsuit filed by the Justice Department on July 16, 2020, sought a court ruling declaring that the board members were not legally serving. The government contended that by continuing in their roles after the president’s directive, the board members were defying both executive orders and judicial determinations. Through this lawsuit, the administration expressed a commitment to upholding presidential authority, emphasizing the critical nature of personnel decisions within federal offices as a reflection of policy. Overall, this legal dispute underscores broader discussions regarding the governance of public broadcasting in the United States, especially under the Trump administration. The conflict centered on questions of accountability, independence, and the balance of power between the presidency and federally associated entities. The final outcome of this case will likely influence how public media organizations function in relation to government oversight and funding decisions, shaping the future landscape of American public broadcasting.