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 civic practice — and check back for regular updates.

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

Advocacy Updates

Issued April 10, 2026

Updates on two court cases in favor of IMLS 

Earlier this week, a federal court approved the administration’s request to withdraw its appeal of an earlier ruling by a federal judge, which struck down the administration’s attempt last year to dismantle the agency through an executive order. This order prompted a lawsuit filed in April by the Attorneys General of 21 states. In May, Rhode Island district court judge John J. McConnell Jr. officially ordered a halt to the executive order aimed at dismantling IMLS. That ruling was followed in November by a decision that permanently prohibits the administration from taking further steps to eliminate the agency.

Also announced this week, The American Library Association (ALA) and the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) have reached a settlement agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice that protects the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and ensures the agency will continue carrying out its congressionally mandated work. Under the settlement, the agency will continue awarding grants, conducting research, and operating programs that support libraries and museums across the country. The agreement also confirms that previously terminated grants have been reinstated, agency staff reductions have been reversed, and the administration will not take further steps to implement the executive order targeting IMLS. More from the ALA press release. 

Court Dismisses Lawsuit Challenging Nonprofit Nonpartisanship, IRS Announces Plans to Weaken Protections Administratively

The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas dismissed a lawsuit on March 31 involving a proposed legal settlement between two churches and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), which, if approved, would have undermined a landmark federal law known as the Johnson Amendment that has protected charitable nonprofits, including churches, food banks, and community groups, from partisan politics for more than 70 years. While the legal settlement would have been limited to only the two churches involved in the case, it could have led to significant harm to the entire nonprofit sector. The National Council of Nonprofits (NCN) welcomed the court’s decision along with other national leaders. In response to the court’s decision, the U.S. Department of the Treasury and IRS announced plans to develop and issue new guidance to achieve the same goals as the proposed legal settlement. Moreover, National Religious Broadcasters, the lead plaintiff in the case, intends to appeal the court’s decision. Update courtesy of National Council of Nonprofits. 

Issued April 3, 2026

Administration's Proposed FY2027 Budget 

On April 3, the Administration’s FY 2027 Budget Request to Congress was released and included numerous provisions pertaining to the cultural agencies. Among those are:

• $29 million to carry out the closure of the National Endowment for the Arts

• $38 million to carry out the closure for the National Endowment for the Humanities, including the administration of awards made prior to September 30th, 2026

• $6 million to carry out the closure of the Institute of Museum and Library Services

• $2 billion for the new Make Education Great Again (MEGA) grants program, which would “support evidence-based instruction in reading and mathematics while also permitting a range of other activities authorized under ESSA. States would be required to reserve at least 25% of the MEGA funds to support literacy activities and 25% for evidence-based mathematics instruction. Remaining funds could be used by states to support any activities currently allowable under 17 formula and competitive K-12 grant programs that would be eliminated in the proposal. These include Title II, 21^stCentury Community Learning Centers, Title IV-A, and Assistance for Arts Education, among others. Funding for the 17 programs totaled $6.5 billion in FY 2026, nearly a 70% decrease.

The overall budget is requesting a $1.5 trillion for the Department of Defense, a 40% increase over FY 2026,coupled by a call for $73 billion in cuts across many domestic agencies, including the elimination of many education and cultural programs. The administration’s proposed budget is one part of the appropriations process and advocates have opportunities to reach out to Congress and speak to the critical role federal funding for the arts and humanities plays across the country.

Federal judge blocks executive order to end federal funding for PBS and NPR

Citing the First Amendment, a federal judge on Tuesday agreed to permanently block the Administration from implementing a presidential directive to end federal funding for National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting Service, two media entities that the White House has said are counterproductive to American priorities. The operational impact of U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss' decision was not immediately clear — both because it will likely be appealed and because too much damage to the public-broadcasting system has already been done, both by the president and Congress. Moss ruled that the president’s executive order to cease funding for NPR and PBS is unlawful and unenforceable. The judge said the First Amendment right to free speech "does not tolerate viewpoint discrimination and retaliation of this type." The judge agreed with government attorneys that some of the news outlets' legal claims are moot, partly because the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the entity that funneled that money to the TV and radio networks, no longer exists. "But that does not end the matter because the Executive Order sweeps beyond the CPB," Moss added. "It also directs that all federal agencies refrain from funding NPR and PBS — regardless of the nature of the program or the merits of their applications or requests for funding." More can be found at PBS news.

Key Advocacy Issues

Prepare to take action by reviewing the key issues with online resources and downloadable briefs prepared by the Cultural Advocacy Group