Advocacy

On May 30, President Trump released full details of his administration's FY 2026 budget proposal. Cuts to federal education, including the consolidation of 18 formula and competitive grants currently funded at more than $6 billion annually, would have a devastating impact on funding for the 2026-27 school year.

As members of the Arts Education Alliance, we are deeply concerned with the proposed budget cuts that will limit or eliminate access to arts education for students across the nation. We reaffirm our commitment to ensure access to high-quality arts education for every student; support educators with resources, materials, space and professional development; and champion arts educators in advocating for standards-based instruction and credentialing.

The proposed budget includes a $4.535 billion cut to K–12 education funding, with a call to return to "core subjects-math, reading, science, and history." This categorization of the arts as "other" or "optional" denies students a complete and comprehensive education, negatively impacting both student outcomes and society as a whole. Arts education is not a frill. Every child deserves access to a quality arts education. There is no equal access to arts education without federal arts education funding. 

In an alarming attack on the arts as a whole, the currently proposed budget eliminates all funding for the National Endowment for the Arts and National Endowment for the Humanities. The funding provided by these organizations is vital not only to arts educators in K–12 schools through cultural partnerships, but to all artists, patrons, and communities. The arts are essential. They bolster the economy, vitalize communities and connect us as citizens.

The Trump administration's budget is just a proposal, and it is now up to Congress to make final determinations about educational funding for the FY 2026-27 school year. This is a critical time for arts education advocates to unite in demonstrating our support for dance, media arts, music, theatre, and visual arts programs. 

Visit https://nafmeorg.quorum.us/campaign/121747/ to contact your members of congress through our Quorum campaign today.