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2d ago

PBS Lays Off 34 in Latest Cuts After Congress Pulls $1.1 Billion From Public Media

The rescinded appropriations forced a CPB shutdown, leaving PBS and local stations to confront sudden budget gaps.

A sign for the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is seen on its building headquarters, in Arlington, Va., on Feb. 18, 2025.
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Overview

  • PBS said it has eliminated nearly 100 positions over recent months, with 34 employees notified of layoffs on Thursday.
  • PBS leadership previously outlined a 21% budget reduction and a $35 million decrease to the pool of station dues.
  • Congress in July rescinded $1.1 billion for public media over two years, a move that also cut Department of Education support tied to PBS’s Ready to Learn program.
  • The Corporation for Public Broadcasting announced it will shut down by year’s end after losing all federal funding.
  • A major donor grant to the PBS Foundation will support NewsHour and PBS Kids, but local outlets remain strained, with Alaska’s KCAW reporting a 24% cut and advocates warning about risks to rural news and emergency alerts.