PBS Shutters its DEI Office in Compliance with Trump’s Executive Order

In response to President Trump’s

executive order, Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)is shutting down its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) office.

Along with the office closure, DEI officers including the network’s Senior Vice President of DEI, Cecilia Loving, and its Director of DEI, Gina Leow, are being let go.

In a press statement, PBS President and CEO Paula Kerger wrote, “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. 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.”

The decision was made following Trump’s executive order banning DEI offices within government and federally-funded public universities, an order he signed almost immediately upon beginning his second presidential term.

PBS expanded its DEI initiatives in 2022 and during this time, the network reported that 44% of its workforce identified as BIPOC— a 6 year high, and notably higher than the 37% broadcast industry average.

In the last fiscal year, more than half (58%) of the documentary programs on PBS were either produced by BIPOC creators or featured “diverse” topics, themes, or protagonists.

As far as PBC Children’s is concerned, the children’s arm of the network reached more Hispanic, Black and Asian-American children (2-8 years old) than any other children’s network. In addition, its programming reached nearly half all children in low-income families.

PBS is responsible for television classics such as Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood, Sesame Street, Finding Your Roots, Making Black America, Antiques Roadshow, Masterpiece Theatre, the Civil War, Downton Abbey, and countless others.