Congress is considering a $1 billion cut to public broadcasting funding—and if it passes, dozens of Native American radio stations could go dark.

For many tribal communities, that would mean losing access to weather alerts, emergency warnings, election information, local news, language preservation, and even music in Indigenous languages.

There are 59 tribal radio stations and 3 tribal television stations across the U.S. that rely heavily on public funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB).

If this funding is eliminated, more than half could shut down immediately, leaving over 1.5 million Native people without the most basic information in places where internet and cable access often don’t exist.

This isn’t just a funding issue. It’s a matter of public safety, cultural survival, and visibility.

From Alaska to Arizona, Native radio is often the only trusted local news source in rural areas. It’s how communities get flood warnings, fire updates, health alerts, and guidance during disasters. Losing it could cost lives—and once a station goes dark, it may never come back.

We’re calling on Congress to reject the proposed $1 billion in cuts to public broadcasting and protect this essential infrastructure for Native communities and rural America.

Native voices matter. Don’t silence them.