Travel Ban, Bipartisan NEA Action, Public Broadcasting Funding, and Protected Species

June 6, 2025

In This Issue

Travel Ban and Partial Restrictions Issued by Administration
Bipartisan House Letter Calls for Reinstatement of NEA Grants
Public Media Funding Faces Serious Threat in Rescission Request
Protecting Species, Supporting Music

Travel Ban and Partial Restrictions Issued by Administration

On June 4, the Administration issued new restrictions and limitations on entry into the United States. The proclamation creates a two-tiered travel ban that will go into effect 12:01am Eastern, June 9, 2025. Full restriction and limitation of entry will be imposed on nationals of Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Partial restriction and limitation of entry will go into effect for nationals of Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.

Orchestras, along with the wider arts sector, engage international artists from across the globe in performances that reflect and expand cultural traditions, spark new artistic partnerships, and fuel international diplomacy and local economies.

The League hosts the Artists from Abroad website and has posted a dedicated news alert describing the full impact of the ban. The League will continue to provide advocacy, direct assistance, and further news to support ongoing international cultural activity.

Bipartisan House Letter Calls for Reinstatement of NEA Grants

Today, Congressional Arts Caucus Co-Chairs Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) and Congressman Mike Turner (R-OH) led more than 120 of their colleagues in urging the Administration to restore National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) grant funding approved by Congress. The bipartisan message was delivered in response to a wave of grant terminations issued for projects that had been awarded. In addition to canceling projects supported by NEA funds already appropriated by Congress, the President has proposed eliminating the agency entirely in the FY26 budget.

See the full text of the letter, which states, “Many grantees are anchors in their communities, whether as employers and educators, prominent Main Street destinations, and tourist attractions. Lost grants will hurt budgets, contract programming, and may lead to layoffs – right as the crucial summer season kicks off for many organizations and small businesses.”

Thank you to all of the orchestra advocates that are joining with the wider arts sector in speaking up for federal funding for the arts. Learn more in the League’s NEA Grantmaking Overview and our NEA Advocacy Campaign.

Public Media Funding Faces Serious Threat in Rescission Request

The Administration has requested that Congress revoke funding already approved for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, following a May 1 executive order, “Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Biased Media” that called for the elimination of funding for National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS).

Congress has 45 days to act on the request, which is part of a broader “rescissions” package that seeks to cut more than $9 billion in federal spending, including foreign aid funding.

Orchestras have partnered closely with public radio and television in communities large and small to bring music programming to countless new audiences. Take action today using the tools from the League’s partners at the Protect My Public Media campaign.

Protecting Species, Supporting Music

Among the many policy developments underway, significant action is advancing regarding the rules for international travel and trade with musical instruments that contain natural materials protected under the rules of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

In November 2025, the 185 global parties to the CITES treaty will meet at the 20th Conference of the Parties (CoP20) to consider new policy proposals for worldwide implementation, including improvements to the CITES Musical Instruments Certificate, sustainability measures for the Pernambuco wood used in crafting many bows for stringed instruments, and other policy measures that can advance urgent conservation concerns while supporting international cultural activity with musical instruments.

Learn more: