The end really began back in May, when Donald Trump signed an executive order intended to cease all federal funding to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Citing concerns of taxpayer money subsidizing what he called "biased media," Trump's order specifically targeted both NPR and PBS. The order not only meant no more funding for these institutions, but Trump even directed the FCC to investigate both for "potential unlawful discrimination."
The decision means PBS programming, which includes programs such as "Sesame Street," "Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood," "Antiques Roadshow" and "PBS NewsHour" will remain on the state channel at least for the immediate future.
PBS's chief executive told public television officials Thursday that it was cutting about 15 percent of its jobs due to the move by Republicans in Congress to eliminate all federal funding for public broadcasting. Thirty-four PBS staffers were notified Thursday that their positions were being cut. Taken with the loss of a longstanding federal grant for an educational initiative earlier this summer, and the elimination of about three dozen other vacant positions, PBS will have lost more than 100 jobs in all.
The Republican Study Committee's meme accused PBS of 'grooming children' in response to Sesame Street's Pride month post, highlighting the division over children's programming.