AEMI statement to House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee regarding FY27 NEA and NEH funding
April 24, 2026
Dear Chairman Simpson and Ranking Member Pingree,
On behalf of the Arts, Entertainment, and Media Industries (AEMI) coalition, I urge the Subcommittee to fund the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) at no less than $213 million each in Fiscal Year (FY) 2027.
Many AEMI union members earn their living working on NEA- and NEH-supported productions. NEA- and NEH- supported productions also are an entry point to careers in the commercial side of the arts, entertainment, and media industries for some union members.
Appropriating no less than $213 million each for the NEA and NEH will ensure that the endowments can continue to be economic drivers that help put people to work creating artistic and educational content across every state and congressional district, often in places far from large cultural centers. NEA- and NEH-funded programs help veterans, encourage innovation and creativity in young people, and unite Americans across small towns and big cities. Funding the NEA and NEH at no less than $213 million in FY 2027 is also an important step toward a historical full funding level of $342 million, or $1 per capita.
Increased NEA and NEH funding will also benefit local economies. Research shows that audiences spend an estimated $38.46 per person, per event, beyond the cost of admission, in the communities where they attend arts and cultural programs.
In closing, the NEA and NEH are critical for America’s workers and its local economies, and the private sector cannot replace the endowments’ role in the nonprofit arts and humanities ecosystem. DPE strongly supports Congress’s continued investment in both endowments by funding the NEA and NEH at no less than $213 million each in the coming fiscal year.
If you have any questions, please contact me or DPE Assistant to the President/Legislative Director, Michael Wasser, at mwasser@dpeaflcio.org.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Dorning, President