NEA Issues Grant Terminations: Speak Up Now

May 5, 2025

In an unprecedented reversal of approved federal support for the arts, late on the evening of May 2, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) sent notifications to many current grantees, terminating awards in progress, effective May 31, 2025. The agency also withdrew many offers of new FY25 grant awards that had been accepted by applicants, publicly announced by the NEA, and were awaiting final official notification to start receiving funding.

The NEA states that the removal of grant support will shift resources to instead prioritize projects “that elevate the Nation’s HBCUs and Hispanic Serving Institutions, celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence, foster AI competency, empower houses of worship to serve communities, assist with disaster recovery, foster skilled trade jobs, make America healthy again, support the military and veterans, support Tribal communities, make the District of Columbia safe and beautiful, and support the economic development of Asian American communities.”

Grantees that received a termination letter have until June 30, 2025 to request final payment of any “actual, allowable, approved costs” incurred before the shortened project end date of May 31, 2025, cutting off months of planned federal support for arts projects, workers, and audiences. Organizations that received a termination letter or notice of withdrawal may appeal the determination within 7 calendar days of receiving the notice, but further details about the appeal process are scarce.

These notices come on the heels of the President’s release last week of a preliminary “skinny budget” request to Congress, outlining significant reductions, eliminations, and reallocations to priority projects for the next fiscal year, FY2026. The Administration’s budget calls for the elimination and shutdown of the NEA, NEH, IMLS, and Corporation for Public Broadcasting, as well as more than $4.5 billion in cuts to K-12 education funding.

ACTIONS

1. SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE: If your orchestra received a termination letter or withdrawal of offer letter, please provide details by completing our League questionnaire, and include any questions you have. 
2. STAY INFORMED: We are seeking to confirm next steps grantees should take under the new approach to the appeals process, drawing down funds, and reporting requirements. The League will continue to update our webpage about the NEA Grant Application Process to reflect any new information that becomes available. In the meantime, consider the following resource: A Nonprofit Checklist: What to do When Your Federal Grant or Contract is Terminated | National Council of Nonprofits.
3. CONTINUE CONTACTING CONGRESS: It is essential that elected officials hear from their constituents about the value of federal funding for the arts, and many orchestras have already been speaking up. During recent previous efforts to eliminate or reduce NEA funding, bipartisan support from Congress has prevailed, and that support needs immediate reinforcement. Please see the League’s Updated NEA Advocacy Campaign for talking points that you can use in direct conversations, phone calls, and email communications to members of Congress.

Stay tuned for more information from the League, and let us know about any information your orchestra would like to share as we work together to advance federal support for the arts.