Actors' Equity Association has released the following statement in response to President Donald Trump's proposed cuts of $27.4 billion of programs, which includes a request to cut $110 million from the 2021 fiscal year budget for the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. According to media reports, through a process called rescission, the president can request that Congress cede budget authority over certain programs for which money has been allocated, but not yet spent. While Congress processes the request, funding for these programs can be frozen for up to 45 days.
"It's sad, but unsurprising, that Donald Trump would try to wreak havoc and cause more damage on his way out the door, given that he has tried to eliminate the National Endowment for the Arts since 2017," said Kate Shindle, president of Actors' Equity Association. "The NEA is responsible for keeping the lights on at arts organizations in every state. These institutions are not only finding ways to support their communities during a pandemic, but they also continue to provide middle-class jobs in an industry that is facing record unemployment. We look forward to having a pro-arts, pro-worker President take office this week."
READ MORE
