WGA East Statement on Trump Administration Cuts to PBS KIDS

NEW YORK, NY (May 20, 2025)—The following is a statement from the Writers Guild of America East (WGAE) on Trump Administration cuts to funding for PBS KIDS:

“PBS KIDS programming is a public treasure that has educated and inspired generations of American children. The efforts to eliminate all government funding for these programs is an attack on children and families across the country.

“Funding for PBS KIDS costs the American taxpayer less than a cup of coffee while delivering programming that teaches millions of children early developmental and social skills, as well as life lessons about equality, belonging and respect. For this reason, the majority of Americans consider PBS KIDS the most important programming on television. It is unconscionable that the Trump Administration is raiding this funding to finance corporate welfare and tax breaks for billionaires.

“The Writers Guild of America East represents the incredibly talented, thoughtful and dedicated writers who work on current PBS KIDS programs like “Molly of Denali,” “Work it Out Wombats” and “Carl the Collector.” These series, along with legacy programs like “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood” and “Reading Rainbow,” continue PBS’ six-decade history of successfully educating children in science, math and literacy.

“Our union will always fight to protect our members’ significant contributions to public television and their vital mission-driven, non-partisan work. We demand that Congress fully fund children’s television in the coming fiscal year. Our children deserve no less.”

ABOUT THE WRITERS GUILD OF AMERICA EAST
The Writers Guild of America East, AFL-CIO, is a labor union of more than 7,500 members working in film, television, news, podcasts and online media. The Guild negotiates and administers contracts that protect the creative and economic rights of its members; conducts programs, seminars and events on issues of interest to writers; and presents writers’ views to various bodies of government. For more information on the Writers Guild of America East, visit wgaeast.org.

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