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Register by October 17 to Secure Your Spot!
| Registration Type | Member Price |
|---|---|
| Early Bird Registration (Sept. 11-Oct.3) | $750 |
| General Registration (Oct. 4-Oct.17) | $850 |
The political landscape in Washington, DC continues to evolve daily. Chorus America needs to hear from you: How are the federal government’s actions affecting your work? All stories of specific impact are welcome. Please share your experience here. Thank you to those members who have already shared their stories with us.
Visit our Government Affairs Resource Page for more tools.
These government affairs updates are provided for informational purposes only and are not intended as legal advice. Nonprofit arts organizations should consult with legal counsel for guidance specific to their circumstances.
Today, the House Appropriations Interior Subcommittee released the Fiscal Year 2026 draft bill. For FY26, the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee is recommending $135 million for the National Endowment for the Arts -- a nearly 35% cut of $72 million. If passed, this would be the agency's lowest allocation since 2007, without accounting for inflation. Already, the agency has undergone severe cuts to its staff, and such a drastic slashing of its budget would result in severe losses of public access to the arts and critical employment that sustains artists and administrators in communities throughout the country.
Advocates across genres and throughout the country are called upon now to urge their elected officials to support the NEA and the critical, independent work it does to bring the arts to everyone. Without adequate support for this agency, not only are direct grants threatened, but essential funding for state and regional arts agencies would be devastated as well.
This funding recommendation is especially disappointing on the heels of termination letters the NEA issued in May to many grant recipients of FY24 and FY25 awards, specifying that the agency would not support costs for those projects incurred after May 31, 2025. The NEA also informed many applicants that were awaiting final confirmation of their FY25 grant awards that their projects would not be supported.
Earlier this year, the President's preliminary budget outline for FY26 proposed eliminating the NEA. However, for many years, Congress has demonstrated bipartisan support for the NEA, passing budgets that fund the NEA at $207 million in FY2023, FY2024, and FY2025. Strong bipartisan support for the NEA has been essential. Historically, Congress has acted to maintain and grow NEA resources, and with good reason: the arts have strong bipartisan support among the American public, and the NEA's work is valuable to all districts in the country.
Want more talking points in support of the NEA? View the NEA Issue Brief for FY26, here.
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Amy Fitterer is a dynamic leader in association management, government affairs, and the performing arts. She has consulted for OPERA America and Partners in Performance, supporting advocacy and strategic planning efforts. As Executive Director of Dance/USA (2011–2020), she led its transformation into a more equitable and financially strong organization, launching initiatives like Dance/USA Fellowships to Artists. Previously, she directed government affairs for OPERA America and Dance/USA, successfully advocating for arts funding and policy improvements. A former ballet dancer and pianist, Amy holds degrees from Indiana University and Columbia University. She lives in northern Virginia with her family and enjoys dance, music, and fitness.
