Overview

• PBS said the latest notices went to 34 employees on Thursday, bringing total positions eliminated over recent months to nearly 100 due to the loss of federal funding.
• CEO Paula Kerger told stations PBS is implementing a 21% budget reduction with a $35 million decrease in the pool of station dues.
• The New York Times reported the cuts amount to about 15% of PBS staff and include eliminated vacancies.
• The Corporation for Public Broadcasting will shut down by year’s end after Congress canceled advanced appropriations that had been allocated through 2027.
• PBS cited a significant donor grant supporting NewsHour and PBS Kids, noted cancellations tied to the Department of Education’s Ready to Learn funding, and detailed earlier steps including travel limits, a hiring freeze, and paused pay increases; advocates warned rural stations provide critical services such as emergency alerts.