PBS has announced the closure of its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) office, citing compliance with President Trump's executive order. This decision comes as public broadcasting faces a potential funding crisis.
PBS has announced the closure of its Diversity , Equity , and Inclusion (DEI) office, citing compliance with President Trump's executive order. This decision resulted in the termination of Cecilia Loving and Gina Leow, the executives who spearheaded the DEI initiative launched in 2021. The move comes amidst growing concerns about federal funding for public broadcasting , which is facing a potentially more challenging landscape than in recent years.
While shutting down the DEI office, PBS CEO Paula Kerger emphasized the organization's continued commitment to telling the stories of all Americans. She explained that PBS's reliance on federal funding through the U.S. Department of Education and the National Science Foundation for its children's programming necessitates compliance with Mr. Trump's order. The system receives approximately $535 million in general support from the government, representing 16% of its budget. However, as this funding is channeled through the private Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), the extent of compliance requirements remains unclear. Some of PBS's 330 member stations independently pursue DEI initiatives and receive CPB funding. Consequently, they will determine the course of action regarding their own DEI offices. Kerger encouraged these stations to consult with legal professionals to assess their specific circumstances. Reports suggest that PBS initially contemplated relocating Loving and Leow to other positions within the system, but this option was ultimately discarded. The DEI office's responsibilities extended beyond racial equity, encompassing efforts to ensure accessibility to PBS programming for children with hearing impairments.This decision marks a shift from the pressure PBS faced four years ago, when over 130 filmmakers criticized the organization's association with documentarian Ken Burns, alleging it overshadowed diverse voices and constituted a 'systemic failure' to fulfill its mandate. With the Trump administration's current drive to reduce federal spending, Kerger anticipates increased scrutiny on public broadcasting. Republican Senator Mike Lee of Utah publicly advocated for defunding PBS and NPR on X (formerly Twitter), a stance not uncommon among Republicans who contend that news programming exhibits a leftward bias. However, past attempts to defund PBS have typically fallen short due to pressure exerted on individual legislators by the hundreds of stations nationwide. Kerger and NPR officials are scheduled to testify before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee next month. Kerger acknowledges the significance of the current situation, stating that she believes it will require extensive discussions to secure adequate funding for stations to continue operating. She emphasizes the need to demonstrate the value of public broadcasting amidst increasing concerns about bias in news coverage. She highlights the vital role local stations play in informing citizens during critical events, such as the California wildfires and hurricanes in Florida, as examples of their contributions
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