Pam Johnston, CEO of Rhode Island PBS and The Public’s Radio, met with staff in person on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, to provide an update on impacts from federal funding cuts. The following message was subsequently shared with all staff.
Dear Team,
Since Congress voted to eliminate federal funding for public media, I know many of us have been feeling the weight of uncertainty and concern. We are now facing the reality of what the loss means: $1.1 million a year – or 10% of our annual operating budget – beginning this fall. This is a significant and painful cut, and it’s not unique to us here in Rhode Island - it’s reshaping public media organizations across the country.
For the last eight months, we have met this challenging chapter with resolve and determination, continuing to create excellent content for our community despite this looming threat. For that, I am deeply proud, and I thank you for your efforts.
In response to the government defunding, we have scrutinized our budget and reduced expenses wherever possible while navigating the complexities of our merger. We’ve also received an outpouring of support from our community and have hosted two of our most successful pledge drives ever. Despite these efforts, it is not enough to close the financial gap.
We want to move forward with transparency and fairness. That’s why today we are offering a Voluntary Separation Agreement to most of our staff members. This first step aims to provide eligible employees with agency and choice by allowing you to have a say in what comes next. It may also support colleagues already considering a career or lifestyle change.
Our People & Culture team will send eligible employees’ specific details within the next day, including resources for questions. One-on-one conversations are also available if you prefer. The deadline to select this voluntary option is September 5.
We are hopeful that this first step will achieve the necessary financial results. If a significant gap remains, we will have to move to staff reductions across the organization.
We will not make any programming changes until we understand what our workforce will look like on the other side of this process.
This federal funding cut happened to us; we have no choice but to respond. As I have said before, this moment will change us, but it will not stop us. Despite these challenging times, we will continue evolving, adapting, and innovating. Our audiences, who rely on us for trusted local news and information, expect nothing less.
Thank you for your dedication and commitment.
With gratitude,
-Pam Johnston
