July 2025
FEDERAL POLICY UPDATES
Rescissions Deadline Approaching
Congress has till July 17 to behave on President Trump’s request to claw again $9 billion in USAID funding and $1 billion from the Company for Public Broadcasting. This rescission package deal has handed the Home and is now being thought of within the Senate. If Congress fails to behave inside this timeframe, the President should distribute the withheld funds.
Reconciliation Bundle
Congress handed the reconciliation package deal and President Trumped signed the invoice on July 4th. The invoice incorporates a everlasting charitable deduction for individuals who don’t itemize on their tax returns, nevertheless it additionally consists of plenty of provisions that would restrict charitable giving within the coming years. For Extra Context: Our June 27 Workplace Hours featured detailed discussions on each the rescissions invoice and reconciliation package deal (“Big Beautiful Bill”) with specialists from PBS and Impartial Sector. View the recording right here.
Arts Training Funding at Threat
The Trump Administration notified State Training Companies that they’re withholding $6 billion in public college funding, together with applications that assist in-school and after-school arts training.
SCOTUS Ruling On Nationwide Injunctions
The Supreme Courtroom on June twenty seventh restricted federal judges’ means to difficulty nationwide injunctions in Trump v. CASA (extra generally generally known as the birthright citizenship case). The ruling, led by Justice Amy Coney Barrett, eliminates courts’ authority to dam govt actions throughout the nation. This might negatively affect present lawsuits difficult govt actions concentrating on our federal cultural companies.
STRATEGIC ADVOCACY CAMPAIGN UNDERWAY
The battle for NEA and NEH funding has reached a essential juncture with widespread grant cancellations and extreme staffing cuts threatening arts applications nationwide.
People for the Arts has launched a complete advocacy marketing campaign calling for $209 million every for the Nationwide Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and Nationwide Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) in FY 2026 – a modest $2 million enhance from present funding ranges.
Our Authorities Affairs group is conducting focused outreach in key Congressional districts, specializing in areas the place federal arts funding aligns with native priorities like financial growth, veteran providers, and group revitalization.
ADVOCACY RESOURCES AVAILABLE
AFTA has developed an entire NEA-NEH advocacy toolkit for grassroots engagement on your congressional district, that includes ready-to-use templates for Congressional constituent emails, press releases, and op-eds. All supplies emphasize key messages round financial affect, group vitality, robust bipartisan assist, and modest federal funding.
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Financial Impression: $1.2 trillion contribution to U.S. financial system, 4.2% of GDP
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Neighborhood Vitality: The NEA stands as one of many federal authorities’s most effective companies, constantly exceeding its required 1:1 match of personal to public funds and delivering strategic investments that energy native economies throughout the nation
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Bipartisan Helps: Arts funding continues to have robust cross-party backing even in these politically polarizing instances
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Modest Funding: Present federal assist equals simply 62 cents per individual
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Well timed Connection: Each NEA and NEH chairs serve on White Home Activity Pressure for America’s 250th celebration
WHAT’S NEXT
Home Inside Appropriators are anticipated to markup their appropriations invoice later in July the place we are going to first see their prompt FY26 funding degree for the NEA and NEH. Senate Inside Appropriators are anticipated to markup their invoice after the August recess.
JULY LEGISLATIVE FLY-INS
AFTA is internet hosting two Legislative Fly-Ins in July, bringing arts advocates from Alaska, Idaho, Kentucky, Maine, Nebraska, Nevada, South Dakota, Utah, Texas, and West Virginia to satisfy with appropriators and champion $209 million in FY26 funding for the NEA and NEH.
July 14-15: Conferences with key Home Inside Appropriators
July 21-22: Conferences with key Senate Inside Appropriators
Go to the “Take Action” part on AFTA’s Defend the NEA web page to study other ways you will get concerned.
VOICES FROM THE FIELD
Celebrating the affect of arts advocacy throughout America.
AFTACON 2025 in Cincinnati introduced collectively practically 900 arts leaders for 3 days of connection, studying, and inspiration. Right here’s what attendees are saying about their expertise:
Skilled Growth Energy:
“I have attended almost every AFTACON since I began my career in 2014. It is one of the most impactful professional development opportunities of my year.”
– Randy Ham, Government Director, Odessa Arts (Odessa, TX)
Mission and Vitality:
“AFTACON was a great experience and a powerful energizer for my own impact-driven mission.”
– Melisa Allen, Training Administrator, Kravis Middle for the Performing Arts (West Palm Seaside, FL)
Unparalleled Entry and Studying:
“The level of professionalism and achievement of your panelists was unexpected and inspirational. We were witnesses to the ‘who’s who’ of the art world… and I couldn’t have gotten that information or seen that level of accomplished and contemporary artists ANYWHERE ELSE.”
– Mary McNamara Bernsten, Government Director, Rockford Space Arts Council (Rockford, IL)
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Keep linked with upcoming studying alternatives.
Arts Advocacy Workplace Hours
Be part of us bi-weekly on Fridays at 2:00 PM ET for updates on federal cultural companies and well timed advocacy matters. Beginning in August, these classes will transfer to month-to-month.
Upcoming Classes:
July 11: Federal cultural companies replace
July 25: Subject forthcoming – keep tuned
People for the Arts is a nonprofit group working every single day to construct recognition and assist for the extraordinary and dynamic worth of the humanities and to guide, serve, and advance the varied networks of organizations and people who domesticate the humanities in America. Assist our work to make sure that each American has entry to the humanities by making a present on the hyperlink under. Thanks!
