Listen to the Youth: The Trump Administration's Orders to Defund PBS

Remember when Justin Bieber performed the song Children? One of his popular lyrics were, "What about the children?” No, really. What about the children? 

Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is enjoyed by millions of viewers in the U.S.A.; it holds a strong reputation, all while capturing and teaching valuable life-lessons towards the youth. The broadcasting network is not obsolete, and still thrives like an older cousin of Bluey. 

In the eyes of the Trump administration, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) should be defunded due to reckless expenditures and a bias that the administration has kept clandestinely. 

The senate declared it was “not only outdated and unnecessary but corrosive to the appearance of journalistic independence.” There was nothing else. Nothing less, nothing more. Afterwards, the House approved a recessions package–a package to cancel approved but unspent governmental funding on July 18, 2025, which called for the defunding of CPB. Since PBS and NPR rely on funding from CPB, these cuts affect them both.

PBS's Valuability in Rural Communities

Rural communities rely on public broadcasting as a source of news and general entertainment. However, due to funding cuts, stations will likely shut down in remote and rural areas.

This makes accessing information more challenging for rural communities. Children often rely on using PBS as a way of entertainment, educational shows, Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA), or even broadcasting sporting events in schools. Classic and life learning shows like Sesame Street or Arthur are on PBS–those types of shows are important for children's development. On a general note, a couple of economically underperforming or isolated/rural states receive a lot of funding federally. According to The Hill, states like Alaska, New Mexico, and West Virginia depend on a crucial amount of federal funding for their revenue. West Virginia, for example, relies on 37% of revenue from federal funding.

Supporting a National Treasure

After the majority of the Senate voted for CPS cuts, PBS will lose the 15% of federal funding it receives. It does not have to be this way. To show support for rural, underperforming communities, or the youth who rely on PBS, you can donate to the PBS Foundation if you want to help. If you are not able to, share this article or ask a friend or family member to donate. If you live in states that have several vulnerable stations in rural areas, you should try to reach-out to the station before it is too late, and try to carry out a process where rural or isolated communities can obtain information. PBS is a national treasure, and we can all make an impact before it is too late.