PBS News Weekend, the companion program to the weekday NewsHour, aired its final episode on Sunday January 11, 2026, after the Republican-controlled Congress eliminated 1.1 billion dollars in federal funding for public broadcasting at President Donald Trump's request. Anchor John Yang announced that the weekend news program was signing off at least for the foreseeable future, marking the end of a broadcast that had been informing American viewers since 2013.
The cancellation represents one of the most significant casualties of the Trump administration's campaign against public broadcasting, which the president has repeatedly accused of liberal bias. The funding cut passed in July 2025 has forced PBS to make dramatic reductions to its programming and staffing levels. Last week, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting announced that its board voted to dissolve the organization after 58 years of operation, citing the spending cuts as a primary factor in the decision.
PBS will replace the weekend news broadcasts with two new single-topic programs designed to reduce production costs. Starting Saturday, the network will air Horizons, a weekly show focusing on science and technology issues hosted by William Brangham. A new program called Compass Points will cover foreign affairs on Sundays. Both shows will be 30-minute broadcasts taped in advance during the week, enabling PBS to cut back on weekend staff and save money.
The funding cuts have forced PBS to close its Arizona bureau, which had enabled NewsHour to update its broadcasts for West Coast viewers. PBS News executive producer Sara Just cautioned against interpreting these changes as an indication that the weekday NewsHour program is in danger, stating that she does not see that program at risk in the near future. However, media analysts warn that continued funding pressures could force additional cuts across public broadcasting.
Critics of the funding cuts argue that public broadcasting provides essential news coverage to communities that commercial media often overlook, particularly in rural areas where local news options are limited. Supporters of the cuts contend that taxpayer dollars should not subsidize media organizations, and that PBS and NPR should compete in the marketplace like other broadcasters without government support.
The demise of PBS News Weekend has drawn sharp criticism from journalism advocates and Democratic lawmakers who accuse the administration of attempting to silence independent media voices. Press freedom organizations warned that defunding public broadcasting sets a dangerous precedent for government interference in journalism and could undermine the diversity of news sources available to American citizens.
PBS officials emphasized that they remain committed to quality journalism despite the financial challenges. The network is exploring alternative funding sources including increased corporate sponsorships and viewer donations to offset the loss of federal support. Media experts note that the future of public broadcasting in America now depends largely on whether private funding can replace the substantial government investment that has sustained these institutions for decades.
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