Take Policy Action this Summer

June 18, 2026

In This Issue

• Contact Congress: Support Federal Arts and Education Funding!
• Humanities Endowment Ordered to Reinstate Grants
• New Tools to Fight Ticket Fraud
• Creative Expression and Collective Courage
• Capitol Hill Comes to Your Hometown this July and August

Contact Congress: Support Federal Arts and Education Funding!

The U.S. Congress has taken initial action on FY27 funding decisions for arts education and cultural agencies, and continued advocacy by orchestras can once again help ensure that proposals to cut National Endowment for the Arts funding by 35% and eliminate the Assistance for Arts Education Program at the U.S. Department of Education will be defeated. The full House has yet to vote on these proposals, and Senate action will unfold in the coming weeks and months.

Ongoing advocacy with both chambers is essential to maintaining the bipartisan support that sustains arts funding. Join us in urging Congress to protect NEA funding and federal support for arts education at the U.S. Department of Education.

Humanities Endowment Ordered to Reinstate Grants

The U.S. District Court Southern District of New York ruled on May 7 that the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) unconstitutionally rescinded grants on First and Fifth Amendment grounds. The ruling specifies that the NEH must “rescind the termination notices issued pursuant to the Mass Termination and shall treat those notices as without legal effect.” The judge also orders the NEH to provide written notice of the opinion. On June 17, 2026, the NEH published details for grantees regarding the award reinstatement process.

New Tools to Fight Ticket Fraud

The League is a leading partner with the national Fix the Tix coalition, seeking the swift adoption of federal policies that will stop the rampant harm suffered by orchestras and fans alike due to ticket fraud. Check out the new tools released by Fix the Tix to help ticket buyers take action and review the League’s Ticketing Policy overview for orchestras. 

Creative Expression and Collective Courage

Freedom of creative expression is central to the capacity of the arts sector to deliver on mission, and the League is one of many partners in the National Coalition Against Censorship’s (NCAC) Collective Courage statement. Collective Courage recently added an FAQs page on artistic freedom, offering practical guidance on exercising free expression while assessing fiscal, legal, and operational risk. Find this and other materials in the League’s Resources for Navigating the Changing Landscape. 

Capitol Hill Comes to Your Hometown this July and August

Congress is returning to home districts and states with frequency this summer, making it the perfect time for in-person engagement with your elected officials. Not sure how to get started? The League has several resources to help: Key Advocacy Updates capture top policy asks, our Calendar of Opportunities lets you know when members of Congress will be at home and provides some easy entry-points for conversation, and our guide to public policy advocacy has Dos and Don’ts when it comes to Playing Your Part. Once you’ve met, please send a note to your League Washington D.C. advocacy team!