WASHINGTON (TNND) — PBS is cutting roughly 15% of its staff after Congress voted in July to eliminate $1.1 billion in federal funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB).

Getting rid of funding for the CPB directly impacted the flow of money going to public broadcasting, including PBS and NPR.

The chief executive of PBS, Paula Kerger, told station managers in an email reviewed by The New York Times that reducing staff was a last resort after the organization had already frozen hiring, restricted travel and paused pay increases.

Around 100 positions will be cut, including 34 immediate layoffs, according to Kerger.

“These decisions, while difficult, position PBS to weather the current challenges facing public media,” she wrote in the email.

CPB announced it would shut down operations by Sept. 30, with a small transition remaining through January 2026 "to ensure a responsible and orderly closeout of operations."

The remaining team will focus on compliance, final distributions and resolution of long-term financial obligations, including ensuring continuity for music rights and royalties that remain essential to the public media system, a release explained.

CPB was established in 1967 by Congress via the Public Broadcasting Act. The private, nonprofit corporation helps support the operations of more than 1,500 locally managed and operated public television and radio stations nationwide.