In 2025, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) announced its closure. National Public Radio (NPR) reported that, following President Donald Trump’s signature on the Rescissions Act of 2025, $1.1 billion in funding for public broadcasting through 2027 would be terminated. CPB is the parent company of the beloved Public Broadcasting Station, better known by the public as PBS. PBS is a not-for-profit television network that provides a diverse variety of programming, including educational, cultural, and informational. There are more than 350 PBS stations around the country. Due to the shutdown of CPB, PBS lost major funding, which in turn has impacted its local stations. Many of these locally run public broadcast stations have had to decide whether to stay affiliated with PBS or whether to go on as independent stations.

The national PBS foundation is still operating, but is doing so despite the elimination of federal funding and decreases in revenue from dues paid by local member stations. In response, PBS has taken a pro-active, strategic approach to secure new and sustainable funding for its foundation and local stations. 

PBS reported that many local PBS and NPR stations created emergency fund drives, and these were very successful. Some stations around the country not only raised enough to cover the deficits but exceeded expectations; however, many still struggle. In Wilmington, North Carolina, the Public Radio station WHQR, affiliated with NPR, raised more than $200,000 in three days, covering a $174,000 hole. PBS Kansas held an emergency 24-hour pledge event and raised $60,000. And, while the funds were significant, PBS Kansas reported that its organization lost $1.2 million when the bill was passed. The emergency funds raised were helpful for some, but not enough to make up the deficit for others.

NPR also encouraged donors to “adopt” stations in rural areas. On PBS’s website, they first encourage donors to give locally, and then to the general PBS Foundation. Paula Kerger, the PBS president and CEO, told Variety, “Some of the smaller stations are looking at coming together in some sort of shared agreement, which would change the way they operate, but would keep local media in communities around the country,” she continued, “I think that’s a really good model. There are some stations that are looking at merging with an adjacent station and serving a larger market. And then there will be some that will find this a bridge too far and will decide not to continue.” WPSU at Pennsylvania State University and WHYY in Philadelphia are both PBS-affiliated stations that, in October 2025, decided to merge their stations. WPSU will be transferring to WHYY. The merger was decided to prevent the closure of WPSU due to the loss of federal funding. This merger will make it possible for both of these stations to continue to operate and serve the central and northern communities in Pennsylvania.

PBS is also looking to broaden its partnerships. They currently have strong relationships with Amazon Prime Video and YouTube, which continue to promote and stream PBS’s programming. To this end, PBS started working with the new Public Media Bridge Fund (PMBF) in August of 2025. PMBF is an initiative that was designed to help local public media stations. PMBF was created by Public Media Company to help local public media by stabilizing stations financially, sustaining local impact, and transforming services. South Bend Tribune reported that PBS Michiana WNIT-TV, located in Indiana, lost 34% of its budget, from state and federal funding in 2025, and they received one of the Public Media Bridge Fund grants, $694,000, which is roughly half of what they lost. Not every state lost state funding, but Indiana was one of them. This grant has helped them tremendously; however, there is still a way to go. WNIT-TV is operating on this grant and relying on more local, community funding.

On March 31, 2026, Judge Randolph Moss blocked the executive order (Order 14290)  that aimed to ban federal funding for PBS and NPR. The order was blocked because Judge Moss believed it violated the First Amendment. Local stations still lack federal funding and are heavily reliant on donor support. A spokesperson from PBS stated, “We’re thrilled with today’s decision declaring the executive order unconstitutional. As we argued, and Judge Moss ruled, the executive order is textbook unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination and retaliation, in violation of longstanding First Amendment principles. At PBS, we will continue to do what we’ve always done: serve our mission to educate and inspire all Americans as the nation’s most trusted media institution.” Reporters Committee notes that “The ruling does not affect Congress’s decision last year to revoke federal funding from NPR and PBS, but the judge’s order blocks federal agencies from implementing or enforcing the president’s executive order in the future.” This means that federal funding will not be reinstated, but the order blocks federal agencies from continuing to implement the order moving forward.

PBS has been presented with a daunting challenge and is in survival mode to continue its operations. PBS is focused on following its mission and maintaining its values as America’s largest classroom, stage, and a trusted window to the world. Despite the challenge of funding, PBS continues to serve its communities, thanks to viewers like you. Today, PBS is still public.

Written by Maggie Scarbrough, a graduate student in the MFA in Theatre - Stage Management program at Virginia Tech.