PBS Shuts Down Diversity Office Following Trump Executive Order
PBS is closing its office dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives following President Donald Trump’s executive orders targeting such programs within the government.
The decision comes amid concerns that the Trump administration may take steps to cut funding for public television, Deadline reported. During his first term, Trump attempted to eliminate funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, though his efforts were ultimately defeated by lawmakers.
According to the outlet, PBS President Paula Kerger informed employees in a memo that “to ensure that we are complying with the president’s executive order we have closed our DEI office, and Cecilia Loving and Gina Leow are leaving PBS.”
“Our mission to educate, engage and inspire the wide variety of American communities we serve will continue to be at the center of our work, and we’ll also continue to ensure that PBS remains a welcoming place for everyone,” Kerger added.
In 2021, PBS announced it would be requiring producers to provide DEI plans for “all new agreements, series renewals and direct-to-PBS programs.”
The closure of PBS’s DEI office comes as FCC Chairman Brendan Carr announced last month that he would be opening an investigation into PBS and NPR over program sponsorships. Carr has been a vocal critic of federal funding for public broadcasting.
“I believe this FCC investigation may prove relevant to an ongoing legislative debate. In particular, Congress is actively considering whether to stop requiring taxpayers to subsidize NPR and PBS programming,” Carr said.
