The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) announced it will begin phasing out operations following the loss of $1.1 billion in federal funding, raising concerns over the future of beloved educational programs such as Sesame Street and Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood.
President Donald Trump recently signed legislation rescinding CPB’s federal support through 2027, a decision that heavily impacts NPR and PBS — including PBS Kids, home to numerous educational shows like Arthur and Sesame Street. Although Sesame Street recently finalized a streaming distribution deal, the broader funding loss could lead to the consolidation of public programming under commercial platforms like Netflix.
PBS currently receives about 15% of its funding from federal sources, which also support widely trusted programs like PBS NewsHour and Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, according to NPR. Local PBS affiliates are similarly reliant on this funding, raising alarms about their long-term sustainability.
CPB President and CEO Patricia Harrison acknowledged the impact in a public statement: “Despite the extraordinary efforts of millions of Americans who called, wrote, and petitioned Congress to preserve federal funding for CPB, we now face the difficult reality of closing our operations.” She added that the organization remains committed to supporting its partners “through this transition with transparency and care.”
Harrison emphasized public media’s critical role, saying it has long provided “educational opportunity, emergency alerts, civil discourse, and cultural connection to every corner of the country.”
Although programs like Sesame Street and Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood are not ending immediately, they could face cuts or cancellations due to the funding crisis, as the organization prepares to shut down operations in the coming months.
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