The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) has officially shut down its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) office, following President Donald Trump’s executive order directing all federally funded institutions to eliminate DEI programs. The move marks a major shift away from the left-wing diversity initiatives that have dominated public institutions in recent years.
Trump Administration Cracks Down on DEI in Government-Funded Organizations
President Trump’s January 2025 executive order explicitly bans DEI initiatives in federal agencies and taxpayer-funded organizations, calling them “illegal and immoral discrimination programs.” The order reinforces a return to merit-based hiring and operations, rejecting race- and gender-based hiring quotas that have been pushed by left-wing activists.
PBS Forced to Comply, DEI Executives Out
As part of this transition, PBS announced that two senior DEI executives, Cecilia Loving and Gina Leow, would be departing. PBS President and CEO Paula Kerger confirmed the decision in a memo to staff, stating:
“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. PBS will remain a welcoming place for everyone.”
However, despite this rhetoric, the closure of the DEI office signals a major policy shift, as PBS looks to comply with new federal guidelines and avoid the risk of losing funding.
PBS Under Scrutiny for Left-Wing Bias
PBS receives approximately 16% of its budget from federal funding, making compliance with Trump’s executive order a necessity. The network has long faced accusations of left-wing bias, leading many conservative lawmakers to push for defunding PBS and NPR altogether.
Critics argue that public broadcasting has abandoned its neutral educational mission in favor of progressive political messaging, using taxpayer dollars to promote leftist ideologies under the guise of “diversity.”
What’s Next for PBS?
While PBS leadership insists it will continue to “reflect America’s diversity” in its programming, the shutdown of its DEI office is a significant defeat for the left-wing agenda. It remains to be seen whether local PBS affiliates, some of which have their own DEI initiatives, will follow suit.
This move is part of a larger crackdown on federally funded DEI programs across government agencies, universities, and public institutions. With Trump leading the charge against divisive identity politics, the era of taxpayer-funded DEI programs appears to be coming to an end.