Jesuit priest Gregory Boyle, the founder of Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles, also will be honored.
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the nations highest civilian honor.
The White House last held a ceremony in July, 2022.
Joe Biden at the Medal of Freedom ceremony in 2022.Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images
Donahue is being recognized as a journalist and television pioneer who pioneered the daytime issue-oriented television talk show.
Being honored posthumously will be Medgar Evers, former senator Frank Lautenberg and multi-sports legend Jim Thorpe.
