Trump administration submits formal budget request for FY2021, calls for elimination of NEA
On February 10th, the Trump administration submitted its formal budget request for fiscal year 2021. For the fourth year in a row, this request calls for a total elimination of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).
The full budget request can be found here.
This document serves simply as a recommendation to Congress, who must still complete its own Constitutionally required appropriations process and vote on the final budget. Both houses of Congress have historically shown bipartisan support for the NEA, despite recent calls for its elimination.
The National Association for State Arts Agencies (NASAA) has formally requested a $170 million appropriation for the NEA from Congress (an increase of $7.5 million) and testified before the House Appropriations Committee on February 6. You can read the full testimony here.
Take Action!
With the budget appropriations process currently underway, now is the time to contact your member of Congress.
- Thank them for their prior support of the arts, particularly the $7.5 million increase in NEA funding for FY2020.
- Advocate for and increase to $170 million in FY2021. Emphasize the fact that 40% of NEA funding goes directly into State and Local Arts agencies. Tell them which of these agencies directly impact you!
- Highlight something that you or your organization are currently doing, or have recently completed, that was made possible by NEA funding (directly or by way of State or Local agencies).
Join us for the Americans for the Arts: National Arts Action Summit, March 30-31 in Washington, DC.
- Develop valuable advocacy skills through a series of trainings
- Collaborate with other advocacy leaders from around the nation
- Meet with legislators to directly advocate for the arts.
Find more information and register here.
Get your own #SAVEtheNEA graphic here and share it on Social Media!
