PBS suffers financial crisis

Myren Hurst - Reporter

 The nearly six-decade-long reign of PBS broadcasting is coming to an end, as federal funding for the CPB is being withdrawn from the government, and the PBS network itself begins to ask for public funding and support to continue its operations. In July 2025, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) was officially cut off from federal funding through the Recissions Bill, a bill that reallocates $9.4 billion in funds to various departments and agencies. Before this, President Donald Trump signed an executive order in May 2025 that called for an end to federal funding for public broadcasters. 

The CPB provides funding for PBS and NPR, the Public Broadcasting Service and National Public Radio, which causes these subsequent broadcasting services to lack the necessary finances to complete certain projects. The CPB released a statement on August 1, 2025 stating that the company's operations would begin to “wind down” and that most staff positions would be eliminated by the end of September with a small production team managing the closure until the start of the new year. 

PBS and NPR should be able to continue their services, with PBS issuing its “defunded, not defeated” motto, stating that they will continue to persevere through the challenge of losing 13% of their finances, and asking for the public’s support as they try to find a more stable financial foundation for their broadcasting. 

While these stations should be able to continue their operations, it’s a no-brainer that these broadcasting services will be hurt from this great loss of funding, and that the rescissions bill will no doubt impact smaller broadcasting services for more rural families and others who need them.