Vermont Public Cuts 14% Of Staff Following Federal Funding Rescission.

Vermont Public has announced significant staff reductions as the organization contends with the loss of federal dollars and ongoing financial strain. The nonprofit laid off 15 employees and reduced two full-time roles to part-time, a 14% cut to its workforce.

The move follows last month’s congressional rescission of more than $1 billion in federal public media funding. Vermont Public CEO Vijay Singh said the station will lose $2 million from its current budget, making the cuts unavoidable. “This is a heartbreaking moment,” Singh said, in a report posted to the network’s website. “We don’t do this lightly and we do it with the intent of setting ourselves up for the best service we can provide for our community.”

While no local programs have been eliminated outright, staff reductions affected nearly every department, including the newsroom. Singh said the goal was to preserve as much programming as possible while saving at least $1.5 million. Vermont Public’s leadership team has also taken pay cuts, and additional cost-saving measures are under consideration.

Formed in 2021 through the merger of Vermont Public Radio and Vermont PBS, the organization employs more than 100 staff with an annual budget near $20 million. Singh, who joined as CEO last year, acknowledged more operational changes are likely but said another round of layoffs on this scale is “not likely.”

Vermont Public joins a growing list of public media outlets trimming staff in the wake of financial uncertainty.