PBS has shut down its diversity, equity and inclusion office and fired two of its executives in response to President Trump’s DEI ban.
The New York Times was the first to report the memo sent out to its staff.
“In order to best ensure we are in compliance with the President’s executive order around Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion we have closed our DEI office,” PBS said in a statement sent to Current. “The staff members who served in that office are leaving PBS. We will continue to adhere to our mission and values. PBS will continue to reflect all of America and remain a welcoming place for everyone.”
Conservatives have long blasted both PBS and NPR for what it considered its liberal leanings. The Corporation of Public Broadcasting which Congress created in 1967 funds both broadcasters. Over the years, there have been many calls to strip CPB of its federal funding.
The Independent reports that Elon Musk recently call for the Department of Government Efficiency to cut off NPR.
That followed a similar call by Trump in April on his platform, Truth Social.
“NO MORE FUNDING FOR NPR, A TOTAL SCAM!” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social last April. “THEY ARE A LIBERAL DISINFORMATION MACHINE. NOT ONE DOLLAR!!!”
Among the executive laid off by NPR are Gina Leow and Cecilia Loving.
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I have used PBS and NPR for 2 decades now. They have fallen on their own sword by becoming openly left wing liberal in their broadcasts. As an Asian American I have often found the content of both to be far too left for mainstream Americans. Since both are funded by public money , they must become neutral in their reporting or risk termination.