Alabama Public Television (APT), which receives both state and federal tax dollars, is being slammed for sending out an email that essentially lobbies against President Donald Trump’s rescission package.
The proposal would retract roughly $9.4 billion in previously approved spending, about $1.1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and $8.3 billion from foreign aid, using an expedited budget process that requires only a simple majority. It recently passed the U.S. House of Representatives and is making its way through the U.S. Senate.
APT argued that it will lose about $3 million annually if the cuts are approved.
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The email includes a statement by Wayne Reid, Alabama Public Television executive director.
“If the Senate approves this massive cut, the consequences for Alabama Public Television’s service will be immediate and severe,” Reid said. “We will be forced to make difficult decisions – and you could lose some of your favorite programs—like Masterpiece and Finding Your Roots—as well as trusted PBS Kids content, educational outreach in communities and classrooms, and other vital outreach programs,” Reid said. “It costs just about $1.60 per person each year to keep these vital services available to everyone. Wiping out this funding will have an extremely minimal impact on the federal debt, but it could destroy local public broadcasting stations throughout the country.”
Adam Thompson, Alabama state director for Americans for Prosperity, blasted APTV for spending taxpayer dollars trying to kill the rescissions package.
Why is a state agency (@APTV) that received $18.9 million out of the Alabama Education Trust Fund in FY2025 sending out emails to Alabamians asking them to lobby for federal funding for them? Presumably using state agency resources to send this email out. #alpolitics pic.twitter.com/YAdX2SmiNs
— Adam Thompson (@AdamThompsonAL) July 9, 2025
Thompson also discussed the issue Thursday on FM Talk 106.5’s “The Jeff Poor Show.”
“APT’s a government agency using taxpayer money to lobby another government agency to get more taxpayer money,” Thompson explained. “I mean, it seems to be the most ridiculous thing that I can think of, right? And putting content, putting whether you think Public TV is good or bad. Government agencies using taxpayer money to lobby, whether it’s the state legislature or whether it’s Congress — it’s just crazy, right? It doesn’t make any sense why we should allow this.”
Trump’s rescission package, which would codify a portion of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cuts, passed the U.S. House with help from every member of Alabama’s Republican House Congressional delegation.
Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee
