PBS Complies with Order, Closes DEI Office

PBS has closed its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) office following an executive order by President Donald Trump aimed at dismantling such initiatives in federally funded entities. The decision resulted in the dismissal of Cecilia Loving and Gina Leow, the executives in charge of the DEI office, as PBS seeks compliance with the order. Despite the closure, PBS President and CEO Paula Kerger emphasized that the organization remains committed to its mission of serving diverse American communities. PBS's closure of the DEI office comes amidst ongoing scrutiny and potential funding threats from the Trump administration, including an FCC investigation into PBS and NPR over sponsorship issues. PBS's DEI initiatives included efforts to ensure programming accessibility for people with disabilities and workforce diversity, which had reached 44% representation of Black, Indigenous, and people of color. The broadcaster's compliance with the executive order reflects broader challenges faced by public media in maintaining DEI efforts under political and funding pressures.