A persuasive advocate should be up to date on the key issues affecting the opera sector.

Read the latest news on advocacy efforts prepared by OPERA America's Director of Government Affairs — and check back for regular updates.

Review the key issues affecting opera and the arts with downloadable briefs prepared by the Cultural Action Group.

Advocacy Updates

Issued June 6, 2025

Rep. Pingree and Rep. Turner Lead 120+ Representatives in Bipartisan Push to Restore NEA Grants

In an announcement released Friday, June 6, Congressional Arts Caucus Co-Chairs Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) and Congressman Mike Turner (R-Ohio) 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 push comes after the administration canceled NEA grants to hundreds of community organizations, many of which had already begun the projects for which they had been awarded. See the full text of the letter here, 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.”

Administration Issues Travel Ban

The Administration issued a proclamation on Wednesday, June 4, imposing two levels of restriction and limited entry on a number of countries. At 12:01 a.m. ET on June 9, 2025, the following will go into effect for foreign nationals of designated countries who are outside of the U.S. and do not have a valid visa. Full restriction and limitation of entry: Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Partial restriction and limitation of entry: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. More can be found at Artists from Abroad.

Reconciliation Bill Passed in the House and Is Moving Through the Senate

This week the Senate began pushing the reconciliation bill to be completed and signed by the White House before the July Fourth recess. The hard deadline will hit when the nation's borrowing limit must be raised — which Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has projected to be mid-July, before Congress leaves for its monthlong August recess. Our partners at the National Council of Nonprofits have created a robust analysis of the impact of the bill on charitable nonprofits and we are tracking the developments closely.

Fiscal Year 2026 Appropriations Moving Through Markup Process — Take Action Now for the Cultural Agencies!

With the reconciliation bill in the Senate, the House has taken up the Fiscal Year 26 Appropriations process. As requested in the Administration’s first team, the White House’s FY26 budget request, which proposes zeroing out the NEA, NEH, and IMLS. While members of the House Appropriations Committee have stated they are planning on writing bills close the White House’s request, Congress has continued to demonstrate bipartisan support for the NEA, passing a budget that funds the NEA at $207 million in FY2023, FY2024, and FY2025. It is imperative that elected officials hear from their constituents about how continued lost arts funding has and will impact their communities and the essential role of the NEA in underpinning support for the arts on a national level. You can use the link here to send a message to your elected official urging them to support the agency. Act now!

White House Sends Rescissions Plan to Congress — Take Action against Cuts to Public Radio and Public Broadcasting!

Earlier this week, the White House sent a request to Congress to claw back $9.4 billion in already appropriated funds. Congress must act by July 18, or the White House will be required to spend the money. The request seeks to cancel $8.3 billion in foreign aid and nearly $1.1 billion in taxpayer support for National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting Service. The House is expected to vote on the package next week. Public radio and television in communities large and small bring music programming to countless new audiences. Take action today by using the form from the American Coalition for Public Radio or find your member of Congress on our website and use the talking points created by the Protect My Public Media Coalition.

DOGE Subcommittee Hearing on “Public Funds, Private Agendas: NGOs Gone Wild”

On Wednesday, June 4, the House of Representatives Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency held a hearing on NGOs (non-governmental organizations) and nonprofits. The testimony of Diane Yentel, president and CEO of the National Council of Nonprofits, can be found here. As Diane states, “Nonprofits are the backbone of this country, providing critical support to improve communities and save lives.”

Judge Blocks Trump's Efforts to Shutter Education Department

On May 22, U.S. District Judge Myong Joun in Boston granted a preliminary injunction blocking the March executive order in an order that also directs the department to reinstate employees who were fired as part of a workforce reduction that cut nearly 50 percent of its workforce. The ruling addresses a pair of consolidated lawsuits: one from a coalition of attorneys general representing 20 states and the District of Columbia and a second from the Massachusetts-based Somerville and Easthampton school districts, the American Federation of Teachers, and a number of other education groups. The administration has filed an emergency appeal with the Supreme Court to undo the federal judge’s order.

Supreme Court allows Trump’s firings of independent agency board members to take effect, for now

On May 22, the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday granted the Administration's emergency request to fire the heads of two independent agencies, the National Labor Relations Board and the Merit Systems Protection Board. A district court had sided with Cathy Harris of the Merit Systems Protection Board and Gwynne Wilcox of the National Labor Relations Board, concluding their firings from their independent agencies were likely illegal and must be reversed. In a 6–3 decision, the high court granted the Administration’s request for a stay of the lower court order to reinstate Harris and Wilcox, at least for now. The dispute is currently working its way through a federal court of appeals and may ultimately return to the Supreme Court on the merits.

RESOURCE: Federal Cultural Agencies Press + Dialogue Tracking

A new public dashboard is monitoring press coverage and public statements related to NEA grant terminations and broader federal arts funding cuts. Use it to stay informed on evolving narratives.

Key Advocacy Issues

Prepare to take action by reviewing the key issues with downloadable briefs prepared by the Cultural Action Group.