WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 14, 2025) – In response to today’s release of the House’s Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations bill, The Creative Coalition is urgently calling attention to a proposed 36% reduction in funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), a cut that would devastate communities nationwide.
At a moment when the arts are fueling economic recovery, civic engagement and national pride – especially as the country prepares to mark its 250th anniversary – slashing $72 million from the NEA threatens local jobs, diminishes cultural access, and undermines the very programs that unite and inspire Americans.
While the legislation rejects proposals from the Trump Administration to eliminate the program, funding for the NEA would be reduced by 36 percent from its current level under the measure. Specifically, the bill provides $135 million in funding for the National Endowment for the Arts, which is $72 million below the current funding of $207 million.
If enacted, cuts of this magnitude will result in thousands of individuals around the country, especially in small cities and rural towns, losing access to the arts and all the benefits the arts bring to their communities. The arts support local jobs, attract visitors and generate revenue for local communities. A strong arts scene revitalizes neighborhoods and often builds community identity and strengthens societal bonds.
“Cutting funding for the arts doesn’t save money, it costs our country its creative soul,” said actor Tim Daly, President of The Creative Coalition. “The NEA is one of the best investments America makes, returning nine dollars for every one spent and transforming communities in the process. At a time when people are hungry to create, connect and heal, we should be doubling down on the arts, not dismantling the very programs that bring us together.”
“The arts have always helped us to celebrate American culture and as our nation begins the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the founding of our Country, the National Endowment for the Arts will be leading the way in telling our American story,” said Robin Bronk, CEO of The Creative Coalition. “Funding for the NEA will help communities across the country celebrate what makes America great.”
The Creative Coalition is shining a spotlight on the real, everyday impact of the National Endowment for the Arts with the release of a powerful new public service announcement starring Iain Armitage (“Young Sheldon”), directed by Michael Chiklis (“Accused”), and written by Emmy-nominated producer Bill Prady (“The Big Bang Theory”). This timely and emotional PSA is a rallying cry to protect one of America’s greatest assets: our national commitment to the arts. Our voices, our stories and our creativity are the threads that hold this country together. Preserving NEA funding is essential not just for honoring our rich cultural legacy but for fueling economic vitality and community connection in every corner of the nation.
ABOUT THE CREATIVE COALITION
Founded in 1989 by leaders in the entertainment industry, The Creative Coalition is the nation’s premier nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to advancing the arts in America. Under the leadership of President Tim Daly, The Creative Coalition educates artists about the arts, arts education, and public policy that reflects the cultural heartbeat of our nation. Learn more at www.TheCreativeCoalition.org.
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