PBS president and CEO Paula Kerger finds herself in a critical situation. Typically, public television and radio stations nationwide receive their yearly financial grants from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting in November. However, following President Donald Trump’s signing of a rescission bill in July, the $1.1 billion allocated for federal funding for public broadcasting scheduled for 2026 and 2027 has been cut, creating an urgent need to address this funding shortfall. This is particularly pressing for smaller stations in rural areas that rely heavily on federal support to operate.
Several PBS stations are already facing shutdowns: Penn State University has revealed intentions to close its public TV station WPSU (which might continue through an acquisition by Philadelphia’s WHYY), while New Jersey PBS has indicated that its set of stations may cease operations next year. Concurrently, local public broadcasting funding has also been slashed by state legislatures in regions like North Dakota and Indiana.
“I’m particularly concerned about the most vulnerable stations. I have dedicated considerable time working with some key foundations to gather funding that will provide those stations with a temporary safety net — allowing them a couple years of funding to explore consolidation or merger options,” Kerger explains.
“Some smaller stations are exploring partnerships through shared agreements, which will alter their operations but will ensure that local media continues in communities nationwide,” she adds. “I believe this is a promising model. Some stations are considering merging with nearby stations to serve larger markets, while others may find this model unfeasible and may opt not to proceed.”
Amid these financial challenges, PBS has reduced the dues it charges member stations. However, this has led to a decrease in revenues needed to support PBS’s own budget. Thus, the broadcaster recently announced layoffs affecting around 15% of its workforce, with the PBS Kids programming division facing the most significant cuts following the elimination of the CPB’s Ready to Learn grant in May.
Kerger is also actively seeking funds through the nonprofit PBS Foundation to support productions funded by PBS or created by partner stations like WGBH Boston, WNET New York, and WETA Washington.
“The primary focus is ‘PBS NewsHour’ because it’s a crucial news operation that consistently incurs significant costs,” Kerger states. “We’re also evaluating major series that received help from the CPB, including ‘Nova,’ ‘Nature,’ and ‘Great Performances.’”
However, Kerger acknowledges that PBS will need to scale back its programming. The renowned series “American Experience” will go on hiatus after the airing of its two-part segment on “Kissinger” at the end of this month.
“By year-end, there will no longer be an ‘American Experience’ staff,” executive producer Cameo George says. “There will be no new films produced. We had films in development for 2026, but following the news about defunding and PBS’s decision not to fund future seasons, those projects were halted… I remain hopeful that PBS will revive ‘American Experience’ because I believe it plays a fundamental role in understanding America’s history.”
Kerger mentions that next year, PBS will rebroadcast episodes from the series library related to the commemoration of the U.S. 250th anniversary. Looking ahead to 2026, while PBS has numerous original programs planned, it may also rely more on repeats of classic shows like Ken Burns’ “The Civil War” to compensate for budget constraints.
“With certain series, we may produce fewer episodes and utilize our library more extensively,” she notes. “We possess exceptional assets, much of which has yet to be viewed by a wide audience.”
The prospect of losing federal funding for public broadcasting has loomed large since President Lyndon B. Johnson enacted the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967. Notably, “Mr. Rogers” host Fred Rogers addressed Congress in a 1969 hearing, advocating for the funding necessary to sustain the service.
As the threat became more substantial under the Trump administration, certain filmmakers expressed concerns that their narratives could become diluted to avoid controversy. Mark Levin, director of a recent “American Experience” episode titled “Hard Hat Riot,” stated he was prompted to omit an ending depicting Ronald Reagan declaring in 1980, “We will make America great again.” Levin explained: “There were worries that under the current political climate, it might not be broadcast.” George clarified that it was a creative choice, not a political one.
When asked if the existing climate could influence PBS’s editorial choices, Kerger responded: “They’ve already stripped our funding. If there were a risk of that happening, it would have likely occurred earlier, which it did not… I feel we have been buffeted throughout this past year, and we have not stifled the programming we produce. We conducted a thorough and honest evaluation of the first 100 Days of the Trump administration on ‘Frontline.’ The NewsHour continues to maintain the same high standard of journalism. Some have asked me during our struggles over federal funding, ‘What if you agreed to sacrifice your news programming?’ To me, that contradicts our mission and obligation. In this moment, it seems even more crucial for us to be a trusted source of information, so our focus must be on delivering what the public needs.”
Kerger enumerated numerous challenges facing public broadcasting in recent months, starting with FCC Chairman Brendan Carr’s letter accusing PBS of airing commercials, threatening to recommend Congress cut funding if this were the case. This was followed by an inquiry letter from the FCC that is still ongoing. An executive order prohibited federal funds from supporting PBS or NPR, and during a House subcommittee hearing, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) accused PBS and NPR of becoming “radical left-wing echo chambers.” Funding for children’s programming was subsequently cut, alongside the removal of Democratic members from the CPB board.
“We have a significant number of conservative supporters who appreciate that the work we do is not only equitable but valuable,” Kerger emphasizes, citing series like “Breaking the Deadlock” and “Firing Line.” “There must be a platform where diverse viewpoints can be presented in a non-antagonistic manner, fostering understanding among differing perspectives. It’s imperative we work diligently to showcase a broad spectrum of opinions from across the nation.”
She added that the future challenge lies in continuing collaboration with the filmmaking community while adapting to reduced resources. “In the short term, we may need to scale back what we produce, but I am resolute that we cannot restrict ourselves solely to traditional series. We must invest in new programs that resonate with the current moment.”
With the ongoing government shutdown, progress towards restoring public media funding is currently stalled. Nevertheless, Kerger remains undeterred. “This isn’t over,” she states. “We’re back in the conversation. I’ve engaged with legislators from both parties and sense potential, especially with next year’s budget. It may take time to gain traction, but I want to emphasize we’re not relinquishing our push for federal support.”
Nonetheless, Kerger is also pragmatic about the likelihood of a “white knight” emerging to rescue public broadcasting. Therefore, in the long run, PBS is exploring options like reducing its real estate footprint, determining the types of shows to greenlight, refocusing its programming efforts in the evolving media landscape, and enhancing reliance on philanthropic contributions.
“We’ve been encouraged by the generosity of many individuals stepping forward,” Kerger adds. “All these donations pouring into our PBS Foundation are immensely valuable as we strategize on how to rightsize the organization to align with our available resources.”
