PBS takes axe to DEI after it reportedly tried to subvert Trump executive order
PBS fired two diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) executives and scrapped the department after Bari Weiss’ online publication Free Press was tipped off that the broadcaster was ignoring President Trump’s executive order eliminating the controversial initiative.
On Monday, PBS CEO Paula Kerger informed staff that it was parting ways with Cecilia Loving, senior vice president of DEI, and Gina Leow, director of DEI.
In the email, Kerger explained that the departures were necessary in order to adhere to Trump’s executive order from Jan. 20, which mandates the elimination of DEI-focused positions and funding in federally supported organizations.
“I know you join me in wishing them well in their future endeavors,” Kerger wrote.
She assured employees that the matter would be discussed further in an upcoming all-staff meeting on Wednesday.
Earlier in the day, PBS had been contacted by the Free Press regarding a tip from a senior network executive who claimed that PBS had originally planned to reassign Loving and Leow to the station services department in an attempt to bypass the executive order.
“The people at PBS are very attached to DEI,” the source told the Free Press.
“Rather than making necessary adjustments to ensure the network’s sustainability, they were trying to move things around to circumvent the executive order.”
A PBS spokesperson provided a statement to The Post which read: “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.”
“The staff members who served in that office are leaving PBS,” according to the statement.
“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.”
The executive order was signed on the day Trump was inaugurated and took effect immediately, but PBS waited until Monday to eliminate its DEI positions, according to the Free Press.
Initially, there were discussions about placing the two executives in a wellness department, but the plan shifted toward relocating them to station services instead, the source said.
PBS’s station services department manages communication between its national headquarters in Arlington, Va., and local affiliates.
However, as the executive order took effect, the network ultimately decided to eliminate the DEI office entirely.
Jason Phelps, PBS’s senior director of external communications, confirmed to the Free Press that Loving and Leow were being let go just minutes before Kerger’s email announcement.
Federal funds account for approximately 15% of PBS’s annual budget, translating to around $215 million, some of which comes through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
The DEI department itself was established in 2021, with Loving and Leow brought on board to spearhead diversity initiatives at the organization.
According to financial disclosures cited by the Free Press, Loving earned nearly $400,000, including bonuses, in 2022. Leow’s salary was not disclosed.
During her tenure, Loving introduced programs such as “Meditation Mondays” and “Indigenous Healing Circles” to promote open dialogue and conflict resolution among PBS employees.
A 2023 internal DEI presentation described these circles as fostering “trust, intimacy, and a sense of safety,” adding that such practices could support employees’ well-being and teamwork.
The high-ranking source noted that Loving often spoke in a manner resembling a sermon, using spiritual language to infuse her DEI work with a moral imperative.
Presentation materials encouraged PBS leaders to “anoint” employees to signify their value to the organization.
Leow, as Loving’s second-in-command, was responsible for organizing DEI councils, employee resource groups, and restorative justice practices.
The two also co-authored a book titled “Connecting Through Circles” and had previously worked together in the New York City Fire Department’s DEI office before joining PBS.
PBS faces broader financial and political scrutiny from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk.
In a Wall Street Journal op-ed, Musk and former DOGE co-head Vivek Ramaswamy highlighted public broadcasting as a potential target, noting that the Corporation for Public Broadcasting receives over $500 million in federal funding annually.
Beyond budget concerns, legal questions have emerged regarding PBS’s hiring practices.
In 2023, the network reported that 68% of its programming was diversity-focused, and that nearly half of new hires were “BIPOC” — an acronym for black, indigenous and people of color.
The network said that three out of four new employees brought on board in 2023 were women. Some critics argue that such policies could be in violation of anti-discrimination laws.
A round of layoffs in 2024 resulted in 24 employees losing their jobs and the elimination of seven unfilled positions — though the DEI budget remained intact at the time, according to the internal source.
The White House has reinforced the executive order’s intent, stating that it seeks to end “diversity, equity, and inclusion discrimination” in federal agencies, contracts and spending. It also calls for oversight on DEI-related hiring practices within private companies that receive government funding.
Kerger is set to appear before the House DOGE committee in March, where she will be questioned on PBS’s use of federal funds.
Committee Chair Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) has criticized PBS for what she described as politically driven programming and has demanded justification for continued taxpayer support of public television.
PBS is a nonprofit broadcaster with over 330 member stations, reaching over 100 million viewers weekly through television and digital platforms.
It relies on a mix of federal funding, donations and grants to produce programs like “PBS NewsHour,” “NOVA” and “Masterpiece.”
