The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which provides essential funding to PBS and NPR, has recently revealed significant operational changes following an executive order signed by Donald Trump that has led to the defunding of these prominent television stations. Given the cultural and informational importance of PBS and NPR, audiences are increasingly concerned about the implications of this funding cut and whether it may lead to the shutdown of PBS altogether.

In the following paragraphs, we will provide a comprehensive update regarding the future of PBS and the potential impact of these funding changes.

What Led to the Defunding of PBS & NPR?

PBS and NPR are set to lose access to approximately $1.1 billion in federal funding from the CPB due to an executive order issued by the White House on May 1, 2025. This order, titled “Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Biased Media,” marks a significant shift in public broadcasting funding.

In his executive order, Trump articulated his rationale for defunding PBS and NPR, claiming that “government funding of news media in this environment is not only outdated and unnecessary but corrosive to the appearance of journalistic independence.” This statement underscores a growing sentiment regarding the need for media outlets to operate independently of government influence.

The executive order further elaborates that “at the very least, Americans have the right to expect that if their tax dollars fund public broadcasting at all, they fund only fair, accurate, unbiased, and nonpartisan news coverage.” It argues that “no media outlet has a constitutional right to taxpayer subsidies,” indicating a shift in how public broadcasting is perceived in terms of funding and accountability.

The order explicitly states that neither NPR nor PBS “presents a fair, accurate, or unbiased portrayal of current events to taxpaying citizens,” reflecting the administration’s critical stance on the programming provided by these institutions.

What Does the Future Hold for PBS? Will It Shut Down Soon?

In light of the CPB’s announcement on August 1, it appears that PBS is on a trajectory towards eventual shutdown. The press release indicated that the organization will “begin an orderly wind-down of its operations” following the passage of a federal rescissions package and the release of the Senate Appropriations Committee’s FY 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-H) appropriations bill, which for the first time in over fifty years will exclude funding for the CPB.

CPB President and CEO Patricia Harrison confirmed that the broadcast network will be “closing … operations,” emphasizing the seriousness of the situation.

“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,” Harrison stated. “CPB remains committed to fulfilling its fiduciary responsibilities and supporting our partners through this transition with transparency and care,” highlighting the organization’s dedication to its mission even in challenging circumstances.

Is Sesame Street Still Aired on PBS? Which Popular Shows Are Affected?

Fortunately, due to a partnership with Netflix, Sesame Street has not faced cancellation. However, as PBS prepares to “wind down,” it is likely that this beloved children’s program will no longer be distributed through the network.

Netflix has officially confirmed that Sesame Street will continue to feature both new and classic episodes available for streaming on its platform.

“Now Elmo, Cookie Monster, Abby Cadabby, and all their friends are coming to Netflix later this year, with Sesame Street’s all-new, reimagined 56th season — plus 90 hours of previous episodes — available to audiences worldwide,” according to an announcement from Netflix’s Tudum in May, ensuring that fans of the show will still have access to their favorite characters and educational content.