Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) at a Meetig on Maine Vet Homelessness at Hanaford Hall, USM, Portland. Severa; Years Ago.
Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies, which oversees funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), issued the following statement on the Trump Administration’s abrupt termination of arts grants nationwide. late this afternoon:
“The Trump Admnistration’s sudden cancellation of hundreds of previously awarded National Endowment for the Arts grants —— just hours after the President proposed eliminating the agency entirely in his budget ———– is an outrageous attack on our nation’s cultural heritage and a reckless decision that will hurt local economies across the country.
My office is already hearing from treasured Maine arts organizations that were notified late last night that their grants had been abruptly terminated. These organizations, like countless others, had already made programmng decisions for the upcoming season and were counting on these funds to pay artists and workers.
Clearly, President Trump fundamentally misunderstands the role of the Endowments —- which through its relatively small budget, underpins the $1.2 million economic powerhouse that is the arts and cultural sector. These grants create jobs, support institutions that anchor Main Streets in even the smallest and most rural communities and generates significant additional private investment.
The claim that these grants are being redirected to ‘align’ with the President’s priorities is both disingenuous and concerning. This appears to be yet another attempt to force a cultural institution to serve the President’s pet projects rather than its sacred and longstanding mission to serve the American people.
As co-chair of the Congressional Arts Caucus and as Ranking Member on the House Appropriations Subcommittee that funds the NEA, I will do everything in my power to fight back against this illegal and disgraceful decision. I call on my Republican colleagues ——– many of whom are longtime supporters of this Endowment —– to join me in standing up for our local arts organizations, which drive economic growth and enhance quality of life in every corner of the country. The arts aren’t partisan ————- they’re essetial to whom we are as Americans and vital to the fabric of our communities.”