After more than 50 years of nurturing and sustaining arts and culture in communities across the U.S., the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities may soon cease to exist.
According to a report in , President Donald J. Trump鈥檚 incoming administration is prepared to enact a drastic budget plan that will reduce federal spending by $10.5 trillion over the next decade.
Among the agencies on the chopping block are the NEA and the NEH, which 鈥渨ould be eliminated entirely,鈥� according to the report.
Signed by President Lyndon Johnson in 1965 under the , the organizations were created to nurture 鈥渃onstant dedication and devotion鈥� to the arts and humanities, which 鈥渞eflect the high place accorded by the American people to the nation鈥檚 rich cultural heritage and to the fostering of mutual respect for the diverse beliefs and values of all persons and groups.鈥�
Trump鈥檚 administration also intends to privatize the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the nation鈥檚 largest single source of funding for public radio, television, and related online services, which was created in 1967 to 鈥渟hield stations from political influence, and deliver federal support in a way that does not affect a station鈥檚 ability to operate independently,鈥� according to its website.
broke down the U.S. government鈥檚 appropriation of funding to the NEA, NEH, and CPB in relation to Trump鈥檚 reported $10.5 trillion spending reduction plan.
The NEA and the NEH each requested $148 million in federal funds in 2016, while CPB received $445 million last year. That accounts for .006 percent (for NEA and NEH combined) and .01 percent (for CPB) out of the annual $3.9 trillion spent by the U.S. government last year.
According to the Washington Post, cutting these organizations only makes a .074 percent dent in the overall $10.5 trillion figure.
