PBS is reportedly set to eliminate 100 positions, representing approximately 15 percent of its workforce, following President Donald Trump's decision to cut $1.1 billion in funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
This organization serves as PBS's primary federal funding source, and the cuts come amid accusations of left-wing bias within the network.
The New York Times disclosed that the staff reductions "include 34 immediate layoffs, the closing of dozens of open positions and reductions made this summer in response to the elimination of federal funding for education programming." PBS's chief executive, Paula Kerger, communicated these changes in an email to station managers, stating, "These decisions, while difficult, position PBS to weather the current challenges facing public media."
According to The Washington Free Beacon, these measures are part of a broader strategy to adapt to the financial constraints imposed by the loss of federal support.
In the wake of the funding cuts, PBS had already announced plans to slash its annual budget by 21 percent. The network has also implemented a hiring freeze, restricted employee travel, and halted salary increases.
PBS and NPR, the nation's two largest public broadcasters, have long been under scrutiny for perceived left-wing bias, despite receiving federal funding for many years. In the current fiscal year, NPR and PBS collectively received approximately $535 million from the federal government via the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
In a move that underscores his administration's commitment to fiscal responsibility, President Trump signed legislation in July to reduce the Corporation for Public Broadcasting's federal funding by $1.1 billion over the next two fiscal years. Consequently, the corporation has announced plans to lay off most of its employees by the end of September as part of an "orderly wind-down of its operations."
Further emphasizing this shift, President Trump issued an executive order in May directing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to cease all direct and indirect federal funding to PBS and NPR.
NPR, already grappling with financial challenges and job cuts over the years, revealed plans to trim its budget by $8 million in July, shortly after the funding reduction legislation was enacted.
This development highlights the ongoing financial struggles faced by public broadcasters as they navigate a landscape of reduced federal support and heightened scrutiny over their content.
Login