Updated June 24, 2025

Have you taken action based on our suggestions? We'd love to hear about it!

LET US KNOW

Check out the Our New York City Dance Campaign to learn more about our advocacy priorities and featured actions.
 

Reference Arts Action Fund’s Breaking News Updates Impacting Arts and Culture for up-to-date national arts news.

 

Arts and Humanities Funding

NEA Grant Cancellations

Beginning May 2, hundreds of arts organizations across the US received emails from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) announcing that their funding had been cancelled due to the agency’s new priorities as directed by the administration. This included the termination of active grants and the withdrawal of pending grant offers.

These notifications coincided with sweeping staffing resignations at the agency and a 2026 federal budget proposal that calls for the elimination of the NEA. They also follow an ongoing legal battle over recent restrictions placed on NEA funding in compliance with anti-DEI and anti-trans executive orders.

• Review our Advocacy Alert on the NEA cancellations
• Explore Americans for the the Arts 'Protect the NEA' resources
• Call Congress to demand they support the NEA
• Email Congress in support of the NEA

 

NEA Guidelines Changes and Lawsuit

In February 2025, The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)—the federal government’s arts agency—announced changes to its grantmaking policies, making it more difficult for BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ arts organizations to access federal funding.

Key changes include:

• Eliminating Challenge America Grants, which fund arts for underserved communities.
• Amending eligibility requirements for Grants for Arts Projects, requiring five years of programming history instead of three.
• Mandating compliance with all Executive Orders, including recent anti-diversity, equity, and inclusion and anti-trans policies.

Some of these changes were paused due to two lawsuits:

• In February, the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education and others challenged two Trump-issued anti-diversity executive orders. A district judge temporarily blocked the orders, which led federal agencies, including the NEA, to stop enforcement.

• On March 6, several arts organizations, represented by the American Civil Liberties Union, sued the NEA over its anti-trans requirements. In response, the NEA paused parts of the new rules, allowing organizations to apply without certifying they will not promote “gender ideology.” However, the NEA may still deny funding to specific project proposals that they view as doing so.

The court noted that the NEA’s compliance with the anti-trans executive order would likely violate the First Amendment. However, it could not make a final ruling because the NEA was still determining how it would implement the order. The NEA has since determined its process, and the plaintiffs have submitted an amended complaint. They await the final results of the trial.

• Review a Summary of the ACLU/NEA Trial
• Learn more about the pause of anti-trans NEA grantmaking requirements
• Learn more about the block on anti-DEI executive orders
• Learn more about the NEA guidelines
• Review the Grants for Arts Projects guidelines
• Complete Dance/USA’s survey on the impact of changes to NEA grant requirements

 

NEH and IMLS Funding Cut

In April 2025, The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) joined the slew of federal government agencies to be targeted by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). As a result, 80-85% of IMLS and NEH staff were placed on indefinite administrative leave—impeding the agencies' critical functions—and canceled all open grants including funding for state humanities agencies.

Two lawsuits have been filed to stop the defunding of the IMLS. This includes one filed by 21 State Attorneys General and one filed by the American Library Association and the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME).

• Take action to protect the IMLS and NEH
• Review the National Humanities Alliance's statement on threats to the NEH
• Review the American Library Association statement on threats to the IMLS
• Explore what to do if your federal grant or contract is terminated

 

Nonprofit Organizations

Executive Orders

Since entering office, President Trump has signed numerous executive orders that threaten the safety and rights of our communities. These include actions affecting nonprofit organizations, federal funding, immigration, LGBTQ+ rights, and DEI programs.

Though many of these orders are facing legal challenges or have limited enforcement power, they represent harmful federal priorities and racist ideologies that we must be prepared to respond to.

• Browse the National Council on Nonprofits’ Summary of the Executive Orders Impacting Nonprofits
• Review Americans for the Arts FAQs on Executive Actions Impacting the Arts
• Review a Summary of Initial Executive Orders’ Impacting Immigrants
• Review The National LGBTQ+ Bar’s Executive Order Litigation Tracker
• Scan an Updating List of Executive Orders by Category

 

Tax Bill

On May 15, 2025, The House of Representatives passed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” (HR 1), a major Republican-led tax bill which proposes drastic cuts to non-military spending, including healthcare and social safety net services. The bill contained provisions that would be harmful to nonprofit organizations, including limits on the amount of tax-deductible donations that individuals and corporations can give to nonprofits.

The bill is now under Senate review. The Senate has already made revisions that would partially restore tax incentives for charitable giving. Still, we have the opportunity to advocate for further revisions that support the nonprofit sector. 

• Review the National Council of Nonprofits’ analysis of the bill
• Contact your Senators urging them to oppose provisions that would hurt nonprofits
• Join the National Council of Nonprofits’ organizational sign-on letter against these provisions

 

“Nonprofit Killer” Bill

In September 2024, the controversial “Nonprofit Killer” bill, HR 9495, passed in the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill would give the Secretary of the Treasury power to revoke the nonprofit tax status of organizations by designating them “terrorist supporting organizations” without giving justification or due process. It faced widespread opposition from nonprofit and civil society groups, who fear that the executive branch could use these broad and unchecked powers to silence dissent and curb freedom of speech. While messaging around the bill has targeted Palestinian human rights groups, the bill could be used to target a wide array of advocacy that the executive branch deems threatening.

The bill was not addressed in the Senate in 2024, nor has it been reintroduced in 2025. Language from this bill appeared in drafts of the House Republican Tax Bill (“One Big Beautiful Bill Act” / HR 1), but was not included in the final draft. 

• Review Coverage of “Nonprofit Killer” Language in the 2025 Budget Bill
• Review the ACLU’s letter with 130 civil society groups in opposition of HR 9495
• Check out Nonprofit Quarterly’s recent coverage of HR 9495
• Scan the bill text of HR 9495

 

Lawyers Alliance Resources

In December 2024, in preparation for changes in the federal administration, Lawyers Alliance for New York put out two new resources for nonprofits, for guidance on navigating increased federal oversight and interactions with immigration enforcement.
• Review the 2025 Federal Compliance Legal Alert
• Review Guidance to Nonprofits Regarding Immigration Enforcement

 

Charitable Act

The bipartisan Charitable Act (S. 566 / H.R. 3435) would extend the deduction for charitable contributions for individuals not itemizing deductions, encouraging charitable giving among moderate-income individuals.

• Email your representatives to support the Charitable Act.

 

Arts Workforce

National Labor Relations Board Member Removed

In January, President Trump removed Gwynne Wilcox from the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), the first Black woman to ever serve on the Board. The NLRB enforces the National Labor Relations Act, which is what protects the right of workers to unionize and collectively bargain. Wilcox's removal has temporarily immobilized the NLRB, as it legally requires at least three members to function but now only has two.

The National Labor Relations Act allows the President to remove board members only in cases of neglect or wrongdoing, and with prior notice—neither of which occurred. This raises serious concerns about workers’ rights and the expansion of presidential authority.

• Review coverage of Gwynne Wilcox’s removal
• Learn more about the importance of unions for dance workers

 

FEMA Reforms

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has implemented major reforms to help self-employed individuals, including artists, receive assistance directly from the agency instead of solely through the Small Business Administration (SBA). This change—effective for disasters happening on or after March 22, 2024—focuses on those with business materials at home or in their vehicle.

• Review one-pager on FEMA updates
• Learn how FEMA's changes will benefit artists and creatives
• Check out the full text of the changes

 

Legality of Noncompete Clauses

In April 2024,  the Federal Trade Commission published a new rule that bans noncompete clauses. This rule states that contracts cannot contain language that prevents employees from accepting new work or starting a new business after their current employment ends. However, in August 2024, the rule was blocked by a federal district court in Texas. The FTC is considering appealing this ruling to a higher court, which could reinstate their ability to enforce the rule.

• Learn more about how the FTC rule was blocked by a federal judge
• Explore the FTC’s rule banning noncompetes

 

Performing Artist Tax Parity Act

The bipartisan Performing Artist Tax Parity Act (H.R. 721) would restore tax fairness for arts workers by allowing them to deduct necessary expenses related to their work.  

 

Arts Education

National Community Arts Education Day

In 2024, and again in 2025, Nydia Velázquez introduced a House Resolution that would designate February 28 as National Community Arts Education Day, with the goal of bringing more recognition to the importance and benefits of a diversified arts education model.

 

Arts Audiences

Ticketing Reform

The Ticket Act (S. 281 / H.R.1402) aims to address fraud and deceptive practices in the secondary ticket sales market which adversely impacts the dance ecosystem and broader performing arts sector. The bill will prohibit deceptive websites, speculative ticket sales, and create requirements for all ticket sellers to publicly disclose any additional fees involved with ticket prices. The Ticket Act has passed in the House and is now in committee in the Senate.

• Visit the Fix The Tix Coalition to learn more and email your representative in support of the bills.

 

Racial Justice

Reparations for Black Americans

House Resolution 414, reintroduced in 2025, would recognize that the United States has a moral and legal obligation to provide reparations for the enslavement of Africans and its lasting harm on the lives of millions of Black people in the United States.

 

Fearless Foundation Lawsuit

In August 2023, the Fearless Foundation—a non-profit that provides grants, tools, and mentorship to women of color to combat underfunding in venture capital—was sued under the premise that their grant program violates a federal statute prohibiting race-based discrimination in contracts. In September 2024, The Fearless Fund announced it had settled in the lawsuit, permanently closing a grant program for Black women-owned businesses. 

The case only acts as legal precedent in Alabama, Florida, and Georgia. Even in those states, most racial diversity-related grantmaking should be able to continue. The legal case against Fearless Fund hinged on the idea that the grant was a contract, not a gift. Funders in these states should seek legal counsel and limit requirements on grantees to avoid grants being construed as contracts. 

• Review the Chronicle of Philanthropy’s coverage on the Fearless Fund settlement
• Scan Inside Philanthropy’s article on the implications of the settlement
• Learn more about the Fearless Fund case history

 

Disability Justice

Digital Accessibility

On April 8, 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice published a new rule under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This rule sets accessibility requirements for all web content and mobile apps managed by state and local governments. It is instrumental in ensuring that disabled people can access vital government services and participate fully in civic life.

• Check out the Department of Justice’s Press Release
• Review the ADA Fact Sheet on the New Rule
• Learn more about digital accessibility

 

Immigration

Travel Ban

In early June 2025, the Trump administration issued a full or partial travel ban on residents of 19 countries, echoing the widely-criticized “Muslim ban” from his first term, but expanding its reach. Many of the affected countries are Muslim-majority and all are outside of Europe. While existing visas will not be revoked, new visas will be heavily restricted or entirely blocked, depending on the country and type of visa. The administration is also considering adding 36 countries to this list.

This policy reflects escalating xenophobia, nationalism, and racism. It endangers hundreds of thousands of immigrant New Yorkers, and limits opportunities for international dance artists. 

• Review Artists from Abroad’s news update on the travel ban
• Review Artists from Abroad’s latest guidance on visa processing
• Review NPR coverage on the impact of the travel ban

 

VISA Fees

Starting April 1, 2024, a new UCSIS rule went into effect, increasing visa fees and changing the application form for O & P visas. It also increases the cost of Premium Processing Service and extends premium processing time, as well as limiting the number of beneficiaries that can be included in a single petition.This means that large ensembles will need to file multiple petitions. Increased UCSIS fees may create additional barriers for immigrant and international artists. 

• Explore the UCSIS Frequently Asked Questions on the new rule
• Check out the Artists From Abroad news alert
• Review the final rule via the U.S. Government Federal Register

 

AI Policy

AI Policy Roadmap

In May 2024, a Senate working group on artificial intelligence (AI) policy released a roadmap with a number of policy recommendations for governing AI. These recommendations emerged from a series of nine AI “Insight Forums” conducted throughout 2023. Recommendations consider issues like copyright transparency, bias in AI, and the impacts of AI on the workforce. So far, Congress has failed to pass comprehensive AI legislation.

The development of AI policy will have large impacts on the creativity, innovation, and livelihoods of the dance community. Congress has the opportunity to develop methods of AI governance that protect employment opportunities that impact the dance workforce.

• Scan a one-page summary of the AI policy roadmap
• Review the full AI policy roadmap
• Check out Tech Policy Press’s AI Insight Forum Tracker