In a move that has sparked considerable debate, PBS announced the closure of its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) office, citing compliance with executive orders issued by President Donald Trump. According to Deadline, the decision was confirmed through a memo from PBS President and CEO Paula Kerger, marking a significant rollback of the organization’s DEI efforts — a trend increasingly observed across public and private sectors as political pressures increase.
A Sudden Shift In Strategy
As reported by The New York Times reporter Ben Mullin via X (formerly Twitter), the memo revealed that PBS’s DEI office would be shuttered and that key leaders Cecilia Loving, senior vice president of DEI, and Gina Leow, director of DEI, would be departing the organization. Kerger noted, “To ensure that we are complying with the president’s executive order, we have closed our DEI office, and Cecilia Loving and Gina Leow are leaving PBS.”
Adding to the dissonance is the fact that this announcement came just days after PBS published a segment on the history of DEI in America on Feb. 8. The timing raises questions: How can an organization spotlight the importance of DEI on one hand while dismantling the very structures that support such values on the other?
PBS Faces Political Pressure And The Fight For Funding
The decision didn’t occur in a vacuum. PBS’s move comes amid growing political scrutiny, particularly from Republican lawmakers and Trump-appointed officials. Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr, appointed during Trump’s administration, recently launched an investigation into PBS and NPR concerning program sponsorships. Carr’s stance is clear: He opposes federal funding for both outlets.
“I believe this FCC investigation may prove relevant to an ongoing legislative debate. In particular, Congress is actively considering whether to stop requiring taxpayers to subsidize NPR and PBS programming,” Carr stated in the Deadline report.
This isn’t the first time PBS has faced threats to its funding. During Trump’s first term, the administration sought to eliminate funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting entirely, though Congress ultimately restored it. Federal funds provide approximately 15% of the budget for PBS, NPR and other local stations. Now, with renewed efforts from the current administration and Republican lawmakers, PBS appears to be navigating a balancing act — choosing between maintaining federal funding and upholding DEI commitments.
The Broader Trend: A National Rollback of DEI Efforts
PBS’s decision is part of a broader trend where organizations, particularly those dependent on government funding, are scaling back DEI initiatives. This rollback reflects a growing tension in the U.S. over how institutions address race, equity, and systemic injustice, especially under the weight of political influence. The irony is hard to ignore: DEI programs are designed to foster inclusivity and equity, yet they are increasingly treated as political liabilities.
Deadline further reported that in 2021 PBS made headlines by requiring content producers to submit DEI plans at the proposal stage for new programming. This policy was seen as a progressive step, signaling the network’s commitment to embedding DEI principles into its creative process. The closure of the DEI office now raises concerns about whether such requirements will persist or quietly fade into obsolescence.
What’s At Stake?
While PBS asserts “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,” the closure of its DEI office sends a conflicting message. Can an organization truly serve diverse communities without dedicated structures to address equity and inclusion? The answer isn’t just philosophical — it has real-world implications for content, staffing, and the communities PBS aims to reach.
