WETA in Washington, D.C., has cut 21 staff positions and canceled three TV shows as it looks to cut $4.4 million in spending for this fiscal year.

CEO Sharon Rockefeller announced the downsizing in a Wednesday email to employees that was shared with Current. “WETA is a strong institution with an unwavering commitment to serving this community and the nation,” she wrote, “but we need to adjust the scope of our work to meet our current fiscal reality.”

The workforce reduction includes layoffs of 12 active workers and the elimination of nine vacant positions, representing approximately 5% of the employee roster of more than 400 staff.

Rockefeller

“These cuts extend the reduction in workforce we have been managing over the past year through reorganization, attrition, retirements, a conservative approach to hiring new positions, restructuring to eliminate nine senior leadership posts, and less reliance on external contract and temporary positions,” Rockefeller wrote.

WETA also canceled its local television shows If You Lived Here, Get Out of Town, and WETA Best Bets, and ended publication of Telly Visions, its website and podcast about British television and culture.

Separately, WETA plans to reduce the circulation of its monthly print magazine, which goes to members who donate at least $35 every month. Mary Stewart, VP of external affairs, said in an interview that WETA will assess members’ interest in a digital-only version. “We’ll definitely send it to people who want it,” she said of the print magazine.

The downsizing responds to the rescission of CPB’s federal funding for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. The corporation is winding down operations to minimum staffing Sept. 30.

Rockefeller’s memo said the loss of WETA’s CPB Community Service Grant for FY26 has created a $6.7 million budget shortfall. For FY27 the budget projections show a shortfall of $9 million annually.

In FY24, WETA received about $17.5 million in federal funding, according to CPB’s website. The amount represents nearly 12% of WETA’s $140 million in revenues for the year, according to its annual financial report.

Most of the FY24 CPB funding supported WETA’s television operations and programming, including an $8.6 million CSG and $8.1 million in grants for television programs. The balance went to WETA’s classical radio stations and unspecified system support.

WETA’s national production unit is one of the largest in the PBS system. It co-produces and distributes PBS News Hour and Washington Week; marquee series from Ken Burns and Henry Louis Gates Jr.; and the companion how-tos This Old House and Ask This Old House.

In her email, Rockefeller said the $4.4 million budget shortfall “is being mitigated by the strong support of members and donors” and earlier spending cuts. These include adjustments to the 403(b) retirement match in WETA’s compensation package and a reduction in WETA’s PBS dues. 

“We are seeing the wider impact of the reduced funding as PBS and many public media stations have announced similar or deeper cuts to their staffing and program services,” Rockefeller added. “As the full ramifications of the loss of federal funding unfold throughout the country, we will continue to assess and navigate these changes.”

Since July, more than 20 public media organizations have publicly announced layoffs tied to the rescission of CPB funding.