President Trump's Proposed Federal Budget Would Eliminate Funding For Corporation For Public Broadcasting, Other Arts Programs

On The Chopping Block

The $1.1 trillion federal budget proposed by President DONALD J. TRUMP includes the expected elimination of arts and public broadcasting expenditures.  The proposal is a first draft "skinny budget" that will precede a more detailed and broader proposal coming in the SPRING.

Among the cuts, the budget proposes eliminating funding for the CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING, which provides grants to public radio and television ($445 million), as well as cutting off money ($148 million for each) for arts programs the NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS and the NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES, and additional funding for the WOODROW WILSON INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR SCHOLARS and the INSTITUTE OF MUSEUM AND LIBRARY SERVICES.

A statement from CPB Pres. PATRICIA HARRISON addressing the proposed elimination of federal funding for her agency said, "There is no viable substitute for federal funding that ensures Americans have universal access to public media’s educational and informational programming and services. The elimination of federal funding to CPB would initially devastate and ultimately destroy public media’s role in early childhood education, public safety, connecting citizens to our history, and promoting civil discussions – all for Americans in both rural and urban communities.

"Public media is one of AMERICA’s best investments. At approximately $1.35 per citizen per year, it pays huge dividends to every American. From expanding opportunity, beginning with proven children’s educational content to providing essential news and information as well as ensuring public safety and homeland security through emergency alerts, this vital investment strengthens our communities. It is especially critical for those living in small towns and in rural and underserved areas.

"Viewers and listeners appreciate that public media is non-commercial and available for free to all Americans. We will work with the new Administration and Congress in raising awareness that elimination of federal funding to CPB begins the collapse of the public media system itself and the end of this essential national service.”

The Recording Academy Response

THE RECORDING ACADEMY Pres./CEO NEIL PORTNOW also took issue wuth the proposal to eliminate the NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS in the following statement:

“Love of music and the arts brings us together, and celebrates the richness of American culture and our spirit of curiosity and creativity. Music and art serve as one of AMERICA’s greatest exports, and support jobs for creators in cities, towns and rural areas across the country. THE WHITE HOUSE proposal to eliminate funding for the NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS is shortsighted and alarming. The modest support that we provide to music and the arts is returned many times over, whether measured in jobs and economic impact, or sheer cultural enrichment and introspection. THE RECORDING ACADEMY will ask CONGRESS to maintain funding for the NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS and renew our commitment to AMERICA’s creators.”

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