1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to protect federal funding for public media, including PBS and NPR. These programs provide an invaluable service to the American public, especially young children, and their budgetary impact is negligible on a national scale. Defunding them would be an ideological attack, not a fiscal necessity. For decades, shows like Sesame Street and Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood have provided young children with educational content that fosters emotional intelligence, literacy, and social skills. This kind of programming is irreplaceable, especially for families who may not have access to expensive educational resources. When Fred Rogers testified before Congress in 1969, he made a compelling case for the importance of public broadcasting, and his words still ring true today. His testimony helped secure funding that has since benefited generations of American children. The only people pushing to defund PBS and NPR are far-right extremists seeking to shut down media outlets that do not fit their narrative. This is not about budgetary concerns, it is about controlling the flow of information and silencing voices that provide balanced, fact-based reporting and educational content. Our democracy depends on access to diverse sources of information, and public media is one of the few remaining institutions committed to serving all Americans, free from corporate influence. I strongly urge you to oppose any efforts to defund PBS and NPR and to advocate for their continued support. The cost is small, but the impact is immeasurable. Please stand with the American people, not with those who seek to undermine our access to education and unbiased journalism.