PBS CEO Paula Kerger announced that new children’s programming may come to a halt as the government moves forward with President Trump’s efforts to reduce federal funding for public broadcasting.
Kerger, alongside NPR CEO Katherine Maher, appeared on “Face the Nation” to discuss Trump’s orders initiated last Friday to cut financial support from two public broadcasters.
“If those funds are cut off, you won’t see kids’ programming on your TV anymore, even though we have a new program in development,” she stated.
She added, “We also have local stations across the country that collaborate with kindergartens and parents, and this funding supports those initiatives, so the immediate effects will be quite significant.”
Kerger mentioned that while Trump and his Republican colleagues have previously threatened PBS funding, the current situation feels more critical. She expressed concern that public television and radio stations could face severe challenges, including possible legal disputes.
While only 15% of PBS’s funding comes from the federal government, some smaller stations depend on federal funds for 40-50% of their budgets. For those stations, losing this support due to Trump’s orders would be “existential,” as Kerger put it.
She also pointed out the children who would be impacted by this directive.
“We believe this executive order will affect funding from the Department of Education, which has been supporting the creation of children’s programming for over 30 years. This also includes research to ensure that our content is safe, enjoyable, and educational,” Kerger explained.
“Half of the kids in this country don’t have access to formal television resources. That’s why public television has focused on creating content for children, such as ‘Sesame Street’ and Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. It’s about providing educational opportunities for those who lack resources,” she concluded.
