Creative Coalition of entertainers 'deeply disappointed' in Trump's proposal to eliminate NEA

The Creative Coalition, a group of Hollywood actors and actress, said its members are "deeply disappointed" in President Trump’s budget request to Congress for fiscal year 2026 that would fully eliminate the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA).  

"The Creative Coalition opposes this shortsightedness and urges Congress to reject it by preserving funding for the NEA for the upcoming fiscal year," read a statement released by the group on Friday.

The Creative Coalition hedge fund its #RightToBearArts advocacy date on April 25 where its members and supporters, including actor Jason Issacs and the group's presient, actor Tim Daly, advocated for more federal funding of the arts at congressional offices and at the White House with members of Trump's staff.

"The NEA represents less than 0.004 percent of the federal budget, but leverages those dollars to return nearly 10 times the investment, especially in rural and high-poverty neighborhoods where arts organizations often serve as community anchors," the coalition said in a statement. "Additionally, the NEA is a grassroots investment in the arts and culture industry, one of America’s highest-value exports, resulting in a $22.6 billion trade surplus."

Daly said the "arts are not a luxury; they are a necessity for a thriving society."

Daily also said that NEA-supported programs "bring these benefits through visual arts, music, theater, and dance to American communities."