Advocate for NEA Funding by May 21 Committee Date

With the President’s budget request now formally submitted to Congress and the recent resolution of the White House-Congress standoff over Department of Homeland Security funding—which brought an end to the 45-day agency shutdown—attention on Capitol Hill has shifted in earnest to the fiscal year 2027 appropriations process.

As expected, the administration has once again proposed eliminating the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), requesting $29 million solely to facilitate an orderly wind-down of the agency. This proposal is consistent with prior years under the Trump administration, and while we at NASAA take it seriously, it is not unexpected.

Our approach remains grounded in the political reality that has defined this issue for years: strong, bipartisan support for the NEA in Congress. That support continues to be the most important factor shaping the agency’s funding outlook.

The appropriations process is now moving forward. The House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee is scheduled to meet on May 21 to consider the NEA’s budget, and we expect the subcommittee to release its proposed funding level shortly beforehand. This creates a critical window for engagement.

For those of us represented by members of the subcommittee, now is the time to reach out. Direct communication about how federal investment in the NEA translates into meaningful impact at the local level can be particularly effective as funding decisions are being shaped. See NASAA’s Strategic Arts Messaging guide for case-making tips in the current political environment.

It is also important to reinforce the strength of the federal-state partnership. By statute, 40% of NEA grant funding is allocated to state and jurisdictional arts agencies and regional arts organizations. This structure ensures that every congressional district in the country benefits from NEA funding—either directly or through its state arts agency.

As always, NASAA stands ready to support your outreach. We are happy to provide tailored data, district-specific information and guidance on how best to engage individual congressional offices in a way that is both effective and aligned with current dynamics on Capitol Hill.