Jeffries Opposes Retirement Package Cutting Public Broadcasting Funds

On Thursday, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries expressed his discontent with a retirement package that proposes cuts to funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), using Elmo puppets as part of his protest.

This legislative package, which exceeds $9.5 billion, was submitted to Congress by the White House on June 3. It solidifies some of the budget reductions recommended by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), affecting areas such as CPB and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). During his address, Jeffries highlighted the beloved children’s show “Sesame Street,” even holding up an Elmo doll to emphasize his point.

“It’s pretty concerning that we’re here discussing laws that seem to target characters like Elmo and Big Bird instead of focusing on laws that could actually help make our economy more affordable,” Jeffries contended.

Notably, “Sesame Street” began airing episodes on HBO as part of a deal established in 2015. The show originally aired on Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) but faced financial difficulties, losing $11 million in 2014. Recently, a contract with Netflix was announced, whereby the current episodes will air simultaneously on PBS, with a second-part planned for late 2025.

In related news, Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, resigned from his position as a senior adviser to the White House at the end of May. He had been leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) since it was established by an executive order on January 20 under President Donald Trump.

Since its inception, DOGE has reportedly identified $280 billion in potential savings, equating to approximately $1,118.01 per taxpayer, according to information available on the organization’s website.