In a controversial move, President Donald Trump has unveiled a budget proposal that aims to eliminate the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). This proposal revives Trump's previous attempts during his first term to dismantle these crucial grantmaking agencies, which play a vital role in shaping the nation’s artistic and cultural landscape.
The proposed budget cuts come at a time when both the NEH and NEA have already made significant reductions to their operations. The NEH has reportedly slashed its workforce, while the NEA has canceled various grants in alignment with Trump's directives aimed at reducing the federal workforce and eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. In addition to the NEA and NEH, the budget plan also targets the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, contributing to a cumulative $163 billion in proposed cuts across much of the federal government.
Established by Congress in 1965, the NEA stands as the largest funder of the arts and arts education nationwide, primarily through its grantmaking initiatives. Conversely, the NEH supports humanities programs by providing funding to museums, libraries, universities, and public television and radio stations. Trump's recent actions reflect a significant shift in priorities for these agencies, focusing on efforts that align more closely with his vision for the arts, which appears to sideline initiatives aimed at reaching diverse communities.
Since Trump's return to office, there has been a flurry of proposals aimed at reshaping the funding landscape for the arts. This includes the cancellation of the NEA’s Challenge America grant, which was specifically designed to support projects in underserved communities. In its place, the NEA introduced the Grants for Arts Projects, which are positioned to celebrate the nation's artistic heritage as part of the upcoming celebrations for the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Trump's budget proposal for the fiscal year 2026 is not yet set in stone; it must be approved by Congress and signed into law before any cuts can take effect. Following the budget's release, reports indicated that the NEA rescinded grants for several theaters—a decision attributed to Trump's shifting artistic priorities, as noted by American Theatre magazine. Furthermore, last month saw dramatic cuts to the NEH, with at least 1,200 grants canceled, a move that has raised concerns among the National Humanities Alliance.
In the wake of these proposed cuts, many NEH employees received notices regarding potential workforce reductions. NEH acting chair Michael McDonald addressed the National Council of Humanities, revealing that some funds would be repurposed for projects like the National Garden of American Heroes and next year's Declaration of Independence celebrations. This garden project was initially proposed during Trump's first term, although both of his executive orders related to it were rescinded by President Joe Biden.
Trump's efforts to defund the NEA and NEH are not new; he has repeatedly sought to eliminate federal funding for these agencies since he took office. In 2017, Trump proposed cutting the 2018 fiscal year budget for the NEA and NEH, along with other cultural agencies, which threatened the viability of countless arts and culture programs across the nation. Despite accounting for a mere 0.02 percent of the overall federal budget, Congress rejected his proposal, alongside similar attempts in the 2019, 2020, and 2021 budget negotiations. Instead, funding for both the NEA and NEH saw increases with bipartisan support throughout Trump's first term.
