Trump Administration Sues to Remove Three CPB Board Members

The Trump administration has intensified its efforts to gain control of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) by filing a lawsuit to remove three board members, including Tom Rothman, the chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group. The Department of Justice (DOJ) has labeled the trio as "usurpers" in the lawsuit, alleging that they have wrongfully continued to act as board members despite being removed.

The CPB, which manages and distributes funding for public radio and television, has been engaged in a legal dispute with President Donald Trump since an executive order ended federal funding for National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). The budget bill also seeks to permanently defund the CPB and recover $1.1 billion in previously allocated funds for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. CPB president and CEO Patricia Harrison has contested the order, asserting that the CPB is not a federal executive agency subject to the President's authority.

In April, Trump attempted to dismiss Rothman, former attorney Laura Ross, and veteran public policy consultant Diane Kaplan from their positions on the CPB board. The CPB responded on June 8, stating that a court ruling had confirmed its independence and the legitimacy of the three individuals as board members. Despite the legal challenges, the CPB has continued its operations, holding meetings and voting on board matters.

The DOJ is now seeking to forcibly remove the trio, asserting that they have "usurped their former offices as board members of the CPB" by continuing to act in their roles. The lawsuit employs a legal tool known as "quo warranto," which originated as a common law writ in medieval England. This action is used to investigate the authority by which a public office is held or a franchise is claimed. The DOJ's suit references a 1928 case involving the government of the Philippines, which was formerly a territory of the United States, to support its claim that the June ruling was unfavorable to the CPB. The DOJ argues that Rothman, Ross, and Kaplan are acting as if the court had ruled in their favor, despite the ruling being against them.

The DOJ's statement emphasizes that the lawsuit reflects its commitment to protecting the President's core Article II powers, which include the authority to make personnel decisions regarding those occupying federal offices. Sony and the CPB have not yet responded to requests for comment on the matter.