FY26 Budget Background

Due to the Continuing Resolution, which reopened the federal government on November 12, 2025, Congress has until January, 30, 2026 to pass Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 federal appropriations bills. 

Before the August recess, the Senate Committee on Appropriations approved level funding of $207 million in FY26 for the NEA and NEH. The House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee approved a recommendation of $135 million for the NEA for FY26 - a nearly 35% cut of $72 million. If passed, this would be the agency's lowest allocation since 2007 without accounting for inflation.

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.

Advocates should reach out to their Members of Congress today and encourage them to support the Senate's funding level of $207 million for both the NEA and NEH.