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 January 26, 2026

FY2026 NEA and NEH Funding Signed Into Law!

Friday, January 23, the President signed H.R.6938 into law, which includes the annual Commerce-Justice-Science, Interior-Environment, and Energy-Water bills. Notably, it protects full funding for the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities at $207 million each. This represents a powerful testament of the ongoing bipartisan support for the arts across Congress and the importance of arts advocacy. Please take a moment to thank your Members of Congress directly or use the template created by our coalition partner, Americans for the Arts.

House of Representative’s Pass FY2026 Minibus Including Appropriations for Labor-HHS-Education

On January 22, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 7148 which included the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026;

Overall, the bill provides $79 billion for the U.S. Department of Education, increases funding for key programs like Title I and IDEA, and rejects the Administration's budget proposal to consolidate many K-12 education programs into a single block grant. The bill includes:

• Title I, Part A—Funded at $18.4 billion to provide additional support that ensures all children meet academic standards, achieve proficiency in arts education, and improve arts education in low-achieving schools. 

• Title II, Part A—Funded at $2.19 billion to support teacher recruitment and retention and build the skills and expertise of educators and to increase the number of high quality educators, including arts educators.

• Title IV, Part A—Funded $1.3 billion for Student Support and Academic Enrichment grants, a flexible block grant that can be used to: (1) provide students with a well-rounded education that includes the arts; (2) support safe and healthy students; and (3) enhance the effective use of technology.

• Assistance for Arts Education Program—Funded at $36.5 million to promote arts education for all students through professional development activities for arts educators; development and dissemination of accessible instructional materials; and community and national outreach activities that strengthen and expand partnerships among schools, districts, and centers for the arts.

Congress also has expressed concern about the new interagency agreements announced on November 18, which shift management of key education programs—including those housed in the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, such as Titles I, II, IV-A, and the Assistance for Arts Education program—from the U.S. Department of Education to Departments such as Labor, Interior, State, and Health and Human Services. The bill now moves to the Senate in anticipation of being passed before the January 30th deadline. 

Update courtesy of the Arts Education Alliance

Travel Ban in Effect and Further Visa Changes

On January 14, 2026, the U.S. Department of State announced it would be suspending processing for immigrant visas for applicants from 75 countries, effective January 21. Exceptions include dual nationals with a valid passport for a country not on the list or if the applicant is able to demonstrate their travel would service an “America First” national interest. If a visa has already been approved but the visa has not been printed, consular officers have been instructed to refuse the case. These 75 countries have been selected because the Administration has deemed its citizens may rely on U.S. government benefits for basic needs. While this list of 75 countries is not said to be pausing U.S. visitor visas, it is important to check lists for prior announcements imposing differing restrictions on specific groups of countries since some countries appear on multiple lists.

In addition to last week's proclamation restricting entry to the U.S. from designated countries, all visa holders traveling to and working in the U.S. should be aware that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced they are ramping up the review of immigration records and will take immediate appropriate actions to crackdown on visa overstays. It is vital that travelers enter the U.S. in the proper visa classification, perform only approved work, and travel within the approved dates of their visa. Other guidance regarding visa processing and entry can be found in a previous Artists from Abroad news item from March.

Update courtesy of Artists from Abroad

National Endowment for the Humanities Announces $75.1 Million for 84 Humanities Projects

Last week, the NEH announced $75.1 million for 84 humanities projects across the country. New awards include 10 NEH Preservation and Access Education and Training grants to train museum, archival, and conservation professionals in new methods of preserving important records and artifacts of national cultural heritage. Several grants will support scholarly, educational, and public programs designed to enhance national celebrations of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. A full list of the grantees can be found at the press release. 

New Resource – NASAA Strategic Arts Messaging 2026 Edition

The National Assembly of State Arts Agencies recently released an updated version The Practical Advocate which has been tested using rigorous research methods and are attuned to the policy environment of 2026.

Issued January 12, 2026

USCIS Premium Processing Fee Increases Beginning March 1

The Department of Homeland Security has authority to make a biennial inflationary based adjustment to USCIS premium processing fees and has just published a Final Rule announcing the new PPS fees. Requests for Premium Processing Service (PPS) postmarked on or after March 1, 2026, must include the new fee. PPS requests for Form I-129 Petitions seeking approval for O and P visas used by international guest artists will increase from $2,805 to $2,965.

Update courtesy of Artists from Abroad

National Endowment for the Arts announces awards for first round of Grantmaking in FY26

On January 8, the NEA announced more than $16 million in funding to nonprofit organizations across the United States as part of its first round of grantmaking in FY 2026. “The National Endowment for the Arts is proud to support opportunities across the country for Americans to experience and participate in the arts while celebrating our nation’s history,” said NEA’s Mary Anne Carter. “As we approach our country’s 250th anniversary, this is a moment to recognize the important role the arts continue to play in our lives, communities, and heritage.” The press release also states that these applications were recommended for funding at the October 2025 meeting of the National Council on the Arts (NCA) and are focused on projects honoring the nation’s semiquincentennial in 2026. The NEA’s council will consider a broader portfolio of the applications submitted in March 2025 at a meeting in early 2026. Applications submitted in July 2025 will be considered at a council meeting in the Spring. The FY 2026 grants will appear on a rolling basis in the NEA’s Grant Search as they are awarded.

Executive Action Withdrawing the US from International Cultural Agencies and Organizations

On January 7, a presidential memorandum was issued to withdraw the United States from 66 international and United Nations-affiliated organizations, described as “contrary to the interests of the United States.” Included in the list are organizations with direct relevance to arts and culture such as International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies (IFACCA), International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM), and UN Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC). Our partner in coalition, the Artists at Risk Connection released a statement on the withdrawal.

Corporation for Public Broadcasting votes to dissolve itself

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), the private, nonprofit corporation created by Congress to steward the federal government’s investment in public broadcasting, announced today that its Board of Directors has voted to dissolve the organization after 58 years of service to the American public. The decision follows Congress’s rescission of all of CPB’s federal funding that made it impossible for CPB to continue operating as the Public Broadcasting Act intended.

“For more than half a century, CPB existed to ensure that all Americans—regardless of geography, income, or background—had access to trusted news, educational programming, and local storytelling,” said Patricia Harrison, President and CEO of CPB. “When the Administration and Congress rescinded federal funding, our Board faced a profound responsibility: CPB’s final act would be to protect the integrity of the public media system and the democratic values by dissolving, rather than allowing the organization to remain defunded and vulnerable to additional attacks.” Update courtesy of, with additional information available in the CPB’s press release.

Key Advocacy Issues

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