Earlier this morning, the Senate approved sweeping cuts to public media funding, threatening PBS Kids and with it, one of the few screen-time options built entirely around how children learn and grow.
For millions of families, PBS Kids offers something rare: screen time rooted in trust, research, and accessibility. No subscription. No Wi-Fi. Just thoughtful programming that meets kids where they are. This vote could take that away.
The bill now heads to the House of Representatives for a final decision.
Why this vote matters for families
Today’s kids are growing up in a world where screens are part of daily life. What isn’t guaranteed is the quality of what they’re watching. And for many parents, PBS Kids has been the one platform they could always feel good about.
Its impact goes far beyond nostalgia. PBS Kids is built on decades of educational research, inclusive storytelling, and an unwavering commitment to child development. It supports how kids actually learn, and who they are while they’re learning.
The proposed cuts threaten a lifeline that families across the country quietly rely on for connection, learning, and access they can’t find anywhere else.
Related: 13 best educational shows for kids—goodbye screen time guilt
What’s happening in Congress
Last week, the Senate passed a $9 billion rescissions package, including a full $1.1 billion cut to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which funds both PBS and NPR.
The funding at risk here had already been set aside, fully approved through a bipartisan deal, for the next two years. The cost to taxpayers? It adds up to just $1.60 per taxpayer, per year. That’s the price of a cup of coffee—for something that brings learning, stability, and emotional development into millions of homes.
Still, political pressure mounted. Former President Trump publicly urged Republicans to defund PBS. Two Republican senators, Susan Collins (ME) and Lisa Murkowski (AK), broke ranks to oppose the bill, citing the value PBS provides to their rural states.
“These cuts will significantly impact all of our stations, but will be especially devastating to smaller stations and those serving large rural areas,” PBS President and CEO Paula Kerger told The Hill. “There is nothing more American than PBS. Despite today’s setback, we are determined to keep fighting to preserve the essential services we provide to the American public.”
Now, the future of PBS Kids, and more than 1,500 local stations, rests with the House.
What happens if this bill passes
If the bill becomes law, families could lose:
- Local PBS stations, especially in rural or low-income areas, where federal funding makes up most of the budget.
- Free access to PBS Kids content, including over-the-air shows for families without cable or internet.
- The bill would also eliminate the Ready to Learn grant, which supports early childhood education, inclusive character development, and outreach programs that bridge learning gaps for under-resourced communities.
And the impact won’t be felt equally. The children with the fewest options will feel it most.
What makes PBS different
PBS Kids was designed as a public service. Every show is grounded in research and created to support how young children actually learn. That’s a sharp contrast to commercial content, where success is often measured by watch time, click-throughs, and merchandise sales.
Here’s how it compares:
| PBS Kids | Typical Commercial Content |
| Funded to remain ad-free; no in-app purchases, per CPB guidelines | Heavy advertising, merchandise tie-ins |
| Developed with input from child development experts and educational researchers | Designed primarily for engagement metrics such as watch time and clicks |
| Emphasizes early learning outcomes: empathy, literacy, STEM, and social-emotional development | Content often prioritizes fast pacing and stimulation, which can contribute to attention fragmentation in young children |
| Includes diverse, place-based representation | Studies show commercial shows often lack meaningful diversity or rely on stereotypes |
| Available over-the-air without internet or cable, ensuring reach in low-connectivity and rural areas | Requires broadband access and paid subscriptions, limiting access for low-income families |
Related: How To Use Screen Time to Raise Empathetic Kids
The research is clear: PBS works
PBS Kids programming delivers measurable results in children’s learning, empathy, and emotional growth.
- Children who watch Daniel Tiger are measurably more empathetic, better at naming emotions, and more likely to use emotional regulation strategies in real life.
- Molly of Denali was the first nationally distributed children’s show with an Alaska Native lead—a groundbreaking moment for representation that resonated far beyond Native communities.
- Studies have shown that shows like Peg + Cat and Super Why! help build early math and literacy skills, especially when paired with even minimal parental engagement.
And PBS doesn’t stop at the screen. It partners with educators to create classroom-ready lesson plans, sends outreach workers to rural and low-income areas, and ensures that kids without broadband or tablets aren’t left behind.
Related: Daniel Tiger Review From a Mom of a Toddler
What’s at stake for real families
In some parts of the country, PBS isn’t supplemental, it’s the only source of early education.
“PBS might be the only preschool some children have access to,” Dr. Marcy Drew, Director of Education at South Dakota Public Broadcasting, told The American Prospect. “It’s what families lean on when there’s no internet, no local child care, and no state-funded pre-K.”
Access matters, but so does representation. For many children, seeing themselves on screen is what makes learning feel possible and personal. When Molly of Denali aired, Alaska Native children wrote letters saying they finally felt seen.
But they weren’t the only ones watching. PBS Kids reaches millions of households that can’t stream, can’t subscribe, and can’t afford digital learning apps.
If federal funding disappears, local PBS stations will be forced to shut down or drastically scale back. Dozens have already cut staff. Once these trusted pipelines vanish, they won’t be easy to rebuild.
How parents can speak up
If PBS Kids has helped your child learn, grow, or simply get through a tough day, now is the time to take action.
Here’s how:
- Email your lawmakers using this simple tool from Protect My Public Media, or call your Representative directly.
- Share your story: How has PBS Kids helped your child grow or learn?
- Speak up on social media: Tell your community what’s at stake. Use #ProtectPBSKids and tag @motherly and @PBSKIDS.
Every voice matters, especially when it comes from a parent who knows what’s at stake.
Our kids need PBS more than ever
For decades, PBS Kids has helped children recognize emotions, build empathy, explore new ideas, and see themselves reflected in the stories they watch. When something this essential is on the line, we show up. Not just for our own kids—but for every child whose future depends on access, representation, and a fair start.
Call or email your Representative today. Urge them to vote ‘no’ on the Rescissions Act. Protecting PBS Kids means protecting every child’s right to learn, grow, and feel seen.Let’s protect what matters. Let’s protect them.
Sources:
- PBS. 2025. “Does PBS Have Ads? Understanding PBS’s Unique Approach to Sponsorship”
- 9To5Google. 2016. “PBS Kids Games app debuts with free educational content, no in-app purchases”
- PBS LearningMedia. “Ready To Learn Research”
- Common Sense Media. “WATCHING GENDER”
- CPB. “Ready To Learn”
- The Washington Post. 2025. “Rural America and kids will suffer if PBS is defunded, its chief says”
- The Hill. 2025. “PBS chief: Funding cuts will be ‘devastating’ for rural areas”
- NBC News. 2025. “GOP-led Senate votes to cancel $9 billion in funding for foreign aid, NPR and PBS”
- The American Prospect. 2025. “How Public Media Cuts Hurt Kids – The American Prospect”