The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) were among 19 independent federal offices facing possible termination under Trump’s newest budget proposals. It has since been announced that a bipartisan spending bill which is scheduled to be passed by the US Congress this week will be increasing funding for the NEA and NEH, The Art Newspaper reports. The agencies are both expected to receive $150 million (around £116m) in 2017, which represents a $2m increase from last year. The budget for the Institute of Museum and Library Services will also increase by $1m (£775,000), whilst the Corporation for Public Broadcasting will keep its funding. The deal, which helps the government to avoid the threat of a shutdown, was proposed after Trump’s plans to redirect government spending towards defence caused widespread public criticism.
3 May 2017
