PBS Has Eliminated 100 Staffers So Far

PBS is facing significant financial challenges due to a $1.1 billion cut in federal funding for public broadcasting over two years, alongside the loss of a major U.S. Education Department grant. This has led to the elimination of approximately 100 staff positions, representing about 15% of its workforce. 

The NY Times reports 34 employees were notified Thursday of immediate layoffs, with additional reductions coming from the closure of vacant positions and cuts tied to the defunded Ready to Learn educational program earlier in the summer.

PBS Chief Executive Paula Kerger described the layoffs as a last resort in a memo to station managers, noting that the organization had already implemented cost-saving measures like hiring freezes, travel restrictions, and paused pay increases. 

Paula Kerger

The funding cuts, driven by a Republican-led Congress and supported by the Trump administration, have resulted in a 21% revenue hit for PBS. To mitigate the impact, PBS has reduced its operating budget by 21% and lowered member station dues by $35 million. 

Despite some relief from a significant grant to support NewsHour and PBS Kids content, Kerger emphasized that tough choices were unavoidable to ensure the organization’s sustainability.

The broader public broadcasting ecosystem is also reeling. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which distributes federal funds to over 1,500 PBS and NPR stations, is shutting down by September 30, 2025, with only a small transition team remaining until January 2026. Local stations, like KSPS in Spokane, are facing budget shortfalls and declining memberships, exacerbating the crisis. While emergency fund drives and philanthropy efforts are underway, the loss of federal support—previously accounting for about 15% of PBS and its stations’ annual finances—threatens programming and operations nationwide.