On Friday, March 23, President Donald Trump signed an Omnibus bill that funded the federal government through September, the end of the fiscal year for the US.
The bill, which was first adopted by both the House and Senate, includes a $3 million increase in funding for the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as for the National Endowment for the Humanities. President Trump had originally called for the elimination of these, and other, cultural agencies within the federal government.
After President Trump called for the elimination of the NEA in his first budget proposal for FY2018 (October 2017 – September 2018) published shortly after he took office, Congress, who write the budget ultimately, disagreed and the House proposed funding of $145 million while the Senate proposed level funding. Through a series of Continuing Resolutions due to the lack of movement on ultimate passage of a budget, the NEA remained funded at FY2017 levels ($150 million) until this month.
The $3 million increase takes effect immediately for FY2018, which ends September 30, 2018.
SC Congressmen who voted to approve the bill, and NEA funding: Sen. Graham, Sen. Scott, Rep. Gowdy, Rep. Clyburn, Rep. Wilson.
