Congress Cuts PBS Funding Despite Top First Grader Educational Programming

In July 2025, at President Donald Trump's request, Congress narrowly voted to rescind $1.1 billion in previously approved funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, effectively cutting all federal tax dollars to PBS and its affiliate stations for the next two fiscal years. PBS, which has been a key producer of educational children's programming for nearly 60 years, has relied on federal funding for about 15% of its budget, with some local affiliates depending even more heavily on such support. This funding cut has led to announcements of program reductions, though flagship shows like "Sesame Street" and others such as "Wild Kratts" and "Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood" remain in production. PBS KIDS also offers digital resources, including a website and apps featuring educational games and activities for children. Research published in June 2025 in the Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology found that PBS accounts for nearly half of the educational TV and video content most frequently watched by first graders, highlighting its significant role in children’s learning. The loss of federal funding raises concerns about the future availability of such educational media and the impact on children’s access to quality learning resources.