A defeatist statement from the NEA

A defeatist statement from the NEA

main

norman lebrecht

March 16, 2017

Statement from National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Jane Chu

Today we learned that the President’s FY 2018 budget blueprint proposes the elimination of the National Endowment for the Arts. We are disappointed because we see our funding actively making a difference with individuals of all ages in thousands of communities, large, small, urban and rural, and in every Congressional District in the nation.

We understand that the President’s budget request is a first step in a very long budget process; as part of that process we are working with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to prepare information they have requested. At this time, the NEA continues to operate as usual and will do so until a new budget is enacted by Congress.

We expect this news to be an active topic of discussion among individuals and organizations that advocate for the arts. As a federal government agency, the NEA cannot engage in advocacy, either directly or indirectly. We will, however, continue our practice of educating about the NEA’s vital role in serving our nation’s communities.

Comments

  • timbits says:

    And this is why our author is not a politician

  • DrummerMan says:

    This statement is all that one could expect from someone in Ms. Chu’s position. Even though she is an Obama appointee, it would make no sense for her to attack Trump.

  • Bruce says:

    I don’t understand how this is “defeatist.”

  • M2N2K says:

    It may only be called “defeatist” in the sense that it is not explicitly “defiant”.

  • Cyril Blair says:

    She specifically says “As a federal government agency, the NEA cannot engage in advocacy, either directly or indirectly.” They are not allowed to cheerlead for themselves, unlike Kellyanne Conway shilling for Ivanka Trump’s line of merchandise. (Technically illegal but the White House, which is allowed to be illegal and unethical, declined to discipline Conway for it.)

  • William Safford says:

    Ms. Chu may not be permitted to engage in advocacy for the National Endowment for the Arts, but we can! (At least those of us who are U.S. citizens.)

    Please write to your U.S. Senators and Representatives, to support the National Endowment for the Arts, and other Endowments that are under threat!

  • Dave says:

    Had she attacked Trump she would have been out on her rump. The headline is more silliness by an out of touch author.

  • MOST READ TODAY: