PBS Faces Major Budget Cuts After Loss of Federal Funding

PBS, the leading US public broadcaster, will reduce its budget by 21% following Congress’s decision to eliminate public media funding. The move comes after the federal government, under President Donald Trump, withdrew the entire US$1.1 billion allocation for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), citing concerns over perceived media bias. As a result, PBS will also lower station dues by US$35 million to help member stations manage financial pressures.

PBS President and CEO Paula Kerger informed station managers of the cuts, acknowledging the difficult choices ahead for the network and its affiliates. Previously, CPB contributed about 15% of PBS’s revenue, supporting not only operational costs but also educational initiatives like the Ready to Learn grant, which funded PBS KIDS content. The termination of this grant in May means an additional US$23 million loss for children’s programming.

While PBS continues to receive support from corporate sponsors and other sources, the impact of these federal cuts will be felt most acutely by small and rural stations, potentially threatening access to quality children’s content in underserved communities. The CPB is winding down operations, with most staff positions ending by September 30.

Source:Kidscreen