In a move opposing President Trump’s proposal to exclude the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) from the Fiscal Year 2026 budget, the Republican-majority U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill to continue funding these agencies. On January 8, the House voted in favor of several funding measures, such as the Interior and Environment Appropriations Act of 2026, which outlines funding for the NEA, NEH, the Smithsonian Institution, the National Gallery of Art, the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA), among other cultural programs.
Despite the Trump administration’s threats to dismantle or reduce funding for these agencies, the House approved full or near-full funding for federal cultural entities. The Senate is anticipated to pass the bill, although a final vote was postponed on Monday. The NEA and NEH are set to receive $207 million each, slightly less than the previous year’s funding of $209 million. Previously, the Trump administration had proposed eliminating these agencies, labeling them as “unnecessary.” Following Trump’s inauguration, federal cultural grants awarded during the Biden administration were rescinded.
Americans for the Arts CEO Erin Harkey praised the House’s decision as a “major win for the arts” in a statement to Hyperallergic, attributing the success to public support for the agencies. Harkey emphasized the importance of consistent public investment for arts organizations to plan and serve effectively. Though the funding levels align with those of the prior administration, distribution details remain unclear. Trump had earlier suggested reallocating NEH funds for his “National Garden of American Heroes” and dismissed the majority of the advisory council, intending to appoint new members.
Despite the NEA’s previous cancellation of Challenge America grants aimed at underserved communities, the new bill requires the chair to prioritize funding for projects serving these populations. Additionally, the House approved a $1.08 billion appropriation for the Smithsonian, countering its reduced budget request that threatened funding for the National Museum of the American Latino and the Anacostia Community Museum. The bill designates $27 million for the American Women’s History Museum and NMAL, while the Anacostia Community Museum’s funding remains unspecified.
The Smithsonian’s financial support comes amid renewed attempts by the Trump administration to influence its content, demanding information on exhibitions by Tuesday. The IAIA in New Mexico will retain its typical funding level, despite being excluded from Trump’s budget proposal. The National Gallery of Art will also receive similar funding. The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), another target for elimination by the Trump administration, has had its grants restored by a court decision. As full allocations are secured for the NEA and NEH, Harkey affirmed that Americans for the Arts would advocate for equitable fund distribution, stressing the arts as a nonpartisan public good.
