February 10, 2020
From: Isaac Brown, Legislative Counsel
Vol. 20:01

Today, the Trump administration submitted its formal budget request to Congress for fiscal year 2021. For the fourth consecutive year, the President’s proposal calls for the elimination of the National Endowment for the Arts. While the President’s budget request is not a binding document, it is nonetheless significant in that it is a statement of policy and spending priorities from the executive branch to the Congress, as Congress begins its appropriations process.

NASAA will continue to do everything we can to support the Endowment and oppose this request. Further, in solidarity with the national arts advocacy community, NASAA has formally requested that Congress fund the Endowment’s FY2021 appropriation at $170 million. We appreciate and expect the bedrock, bipartisan support the agency has received from both houses of Congress in recent years to continue.

Please do not hesitate to contact NASAA with any questions or concerns. To take action, see the points in my February NASAA Notes column. We will continue to keep you updated as events develop.