Statement from Mr. Patrick Lakenen, WNMU-TV/FM general manager, regarding U.S. House of Representatives approval of the amended rescission package that includes defunding public media:
Last night’s action to rescind Congressionally approved funding for public broadcasting is very disappointing. This is a $2.2 million financial blow to WNMU-TV and WNMU-FM over the next two years. The loss of federal funding will result in significant and long-term consequences to WNMU, as well as many other public broadcasting stations across the nation.
WNMU-TV and WNMU-FM are funded through the remainder of this fiscal year, which ends September 30. When you turn to your WNMU station tomorrow, you will still find the high-quality programming, outstanding children’s educational resources, and locally produced programming so important to the people of the Upper Peninsula and northern Wisconsin. If severe weather arrives, WNMU will perform its vital role of distributing emergency alerts to the broadcasting stations across the U.P. to protect the region’s citizens and thousands of visitors. This will be true for as long as we have the resources to support our work.
Our next steps are to join public broadcasting stations across the nation to advocate for appropriations funding in the Fiscal Year 2026 budget and to work on alternative funding.