PBS closed its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) office in response to President Donald Trump’s executive order on the subject.
“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,” PBS told Fox News. “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.”
New York Times reporter Ben Mullin shared a memo from PBS President and CEO Paula Kerger, who informed colleagues of the DEI office’s closure.
“As we discussed at our recent Town Hall, since the President’s Executive Order about DEI was announced in January, we have been working with legal counsel to understand how this potentially affects our organization,” Kerger wrote. “To ensure that we comply with the President’s Executive Order, we have closed our DEI office, and Cecilia Loving and Gina Leow are leaving PBS. I know you join me in wishing them well in future endeavors.”
“Our mission is to educate, engage and inspire the wide variety of American communities we serve will continue to be at the center of our work, and we’ll also continue to ensure that PBS remains a welcoming place for everyone,” the memo read.
Trump’s executive order, called “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing,” directed the Office of Management and Budget to eliminate all federal DEI programs, mandates, and policies, declaring them discriminatory and wasteful. Numerous companies have moved away from DEI since the order was issued.
