The Trump Administration recently initiated the cancellation of numerous grants from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), impacting hundreds of arts organizations across the United States. Late on a Friday, a wave of emails notifying grantees of the withdrawal and termination of their funding arrived in inboxes from a generic arts.gov email address. This development unfolded just hours after President Trump proposed the complete elimination of the NEA from the federal budget.
Among the notable organizations affected by these abrupt funding cuts are the Berkeley Repertory Theater, Central Park Summer Stage in New York City, and the Open Studio Project, an arts education nonprofit based in the Chicago area. The NEA has communicated that it is revising its grantmaking policy priorities to emphasize funding for projects that celebrate the nation's rich artistic heritage and creativity, as outlined in the President's proposal. The email, which has been shared with NPR, stated, "Consequently, we are terminating awards that fall outside these new priorities."
The email further detailed President Trump's funding priorities, which include:
Projects that elevate the Nation's Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Hispanic Serving Institutions Celebration of the 250th anniversary of American independence Promotion of Artificial Intelligence (AI) competency Empowerment of houses of worship to serve communities Assistance with disaster recovery Fostering skilled trade jobs Supporting military and veterans Enhancing the safety and beauty of Washington D.C. Supporting economic development in Asian American communitiesGrantees have been provided with a brief window of seven days to appeal the decision regarding their funding termination.
The arts community has voiced strong opposition to these funding cuts across various platforms, including social media, online newsletters, and direct communications with NPR. Rob Lentz, executive director at Open Studio Project, took to LinkedIn to express his dismay, stating, "The work will go on, but right now I'm pretty discouraged." His organization’s two-year grant aimed at supporting art initiatives for elementary school students has been revoked.
Kate Fowler, director of community partnerships and development at Studio Two Three, a community arts space in Richmond, Virginia, shared her frustration on Instagram regarding the cancellation of a $30,000 grant. "Absolutely furious," she wrote, highlighting the extensive effort invested in securing the grant, which had been approved by a panel of national peers.
Additionally, the Cornerstone Theater Company based in Los Angeles faced the withdrawal of a $40,000 grant intended to support a project exploring the intersection of theater and American democracy. The company's managing and artistic directors, Megan Wanlass and Sunder Ganglani, conveyed their disappointment in an email to NPR, emphasizing the project's alignment with American independence—one of the NEA's new funding priorities.
The NEA is facing not only grant cuts but also potential elimination as part of the Trump administration's 2026 Discretionary Budget Request. This proposal includes the discontinuation of funding for several small agencies, including the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The budget outlines plans to reduce the federal government's size, aiming for increased accountability and reduced waste.
Since its inception by Congress in 1965, the NEA has distributed a staggering $5.5 billion in grants, making it the largest arts funder in the United States, despite being one of the smallest federal agencies. Currently funded at $207 million, the NEA's budget represents a mere 0.003% of the total federal budget. Historically, the agency has enjoyed bipartisan support, as it provides essential funding to arts organizations and artists in every congressional district across the nation.
The proposed cuts and potential elimination of the NEA have garnered widespread criticism from various cultural advocates. Erin Harkey, CEO of the national arts advocacy organization Americans for the Arts, stated, "Any attempt to dismantle the National Endowment for the Arts—by eliminating funding, reducing staff, or canceling grants—is deeply concerning, shortsighted, and detrimental to our nation." Harkey emphasized the NEA's vital role in the lives of millions of Americans and the countless nonprofit and governmental arts organizations that tell America's stories.
Al Vincent, Jr., executive director of Actors' Equity Association, underscored the economic significance of federal arts funding, noting that it survived the last Trump administration due to bipartisan support. "We will fight to protect this critical funding that generates a huge return on investment in local communities," he affirmed.
