Take Action to Restore Funding and Staff at NEA

On Friday evening, May 2, 2025, numerous grants that were awarded or pending through the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) were terminated or withdrawn. President Trump has proposed the elimination of the NEA from the FY26 budget. In addition, NEA staff, including those working in the Folk and Traditional Arts, were given the opportunity to accept an offer to leave the agency through the Deferred Resignation Program or, if eligible, to retire. 

The National Assembly of State Arts Agencies’ statement on cancellation of NEA grants clarifies that per a mandate from Congress, 40% of the NEA’s grant funds must be allocated to state and jurisdictional arts agencies and regional arts organizations. To date, the Partnership Agreements to state arts agencies have not been terminated.

Meanwhile, AFS and many other organizations across our field received news of grant terminations or withdrawals, reporting millions of dollars of funding lost. Many organizations are still processing news, and delivering key communications to their leadership teams.

Take Action

A joint statement from U.S. Regional Arts Organizations urges Congress to “restore the grant funding in support of the arts, culture, and creativity that was passed during the last budgetary approval process, in addition to maintaining its broad bipartisan commitment to funding the NEA in next year’s budget” and provides crucial links to advocacy campaigns for NEA, NEH, and IMLS. The joint statement includes links to report lost funding, sample appeal documents, and guidance for those who have received termination and withdrawal notices. 

Quick Links:

• Use this tool to find your legislators.
• Access the Advocacy Alerts Center at Creative West Advocacy Dashboard
• Follow the Timeline of Impacts to Arts and Culture
• Explore the impact of the Arts funding across the country
• Take Action to Save the NEA