Brendan Carr, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, said the inquiry could help Congress decide whether to continue funding local stations.

FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr claims the public broadcasting stations could be violating federal law. Federal Communications Chair Brendan Carr has ordered investigations into NPR and PBS with the goal of slashing the money given to the government-funded organizations, The New York Times reports.

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr said he is launching investigations into both PBS and NPR, in the hopes of helping Congress defund the public broadcasters. His basis for the investigation stems from what he alleges are potentially unlawful commercials.