1. United States
2. Mich.
3. Letter

The proposed elimination of funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is concerning and detrimental to the arts ecosystem across the nation. The NEA plays a vital role in supporting arts organizations and artists in every congressional district, fueling creativity, cultural preservation, and economic growth through the arts. Its grant funding, while a tiny fraction of the federal budget at only 0.003%, has an outsized impact by leveraging additional funding sources and driving immense value for local communities. The sweeping cancellation of hundreds of grants mere hours after the proposed cuts were announced is disruptive and damaging to the very organizations working to celebrate America's rich artistic heritage - one of the stated priorities. Arts groups like the Cornerstone Theater Company, whose grant supported an investigation into theater's relationship with American democracy and independence, are now left in the lurch. The arts are not a partisan issue; the endowment has historically received bipartisan support precisely because of its nationwide impact. Eliminating the NEA would be shortsighted, harming local economies, limiting access to the arts, and diminishing America's vibrant cultural landscape. This funding cut should be reconsidered to continue the NEA's vital work enriching communities through the arts across the country. The modest federal investment yields immense public benefits that profoundly shape the American experience.