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 check back for regular updates.

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

Advocacy Updates

Issued July 14, 2025

Take Action: Urge the House to Protect the NEA in FY2026!

Today, the House Appropriations Interior Subcommittee released the fiscal year 2026 draft bill. For FY2026, the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee is recommending $135 million for the NEA — a nearly 35% cut of $72 million. This would represent the NEA's lowest budget level since 2007 and result in severely diminished support for public access to the arts nationwide.

Earlier this year, the president's preliminary budget outline for FY2026 proposed eliminating the NEA. However, for many years, Congress has demonstrated bipartisan support for the NEA, passing budgets that funded the NEA at $207 million in FY2023, FY2024, and FY2025. Strong bipartisan support for the NEA has been essential. Historically, Congress has acted to maintain and grow NEA resources, and with good reason: The arts have strong bipartisan support among the American public, and the NEA's work is valuable to all districts in the country.

After the Interior Subcommittee action tomorrow, the full Appropriations Committee will consider the bill. Following that, the bill would be taken up on the House floor for a vote by all members. The same process will be carried out in the Senate before a compromise is struck.

Arts advocates have been highly engaged in reminding members of Congress of the direct value of NEA support for communities nationwide. As funding decisions unfold in the coming weeks, it is vital to continue speaking up. Without adequate support for this agency, not only are direct grants threatened, but essential funding for state and regional arts agencies would be devastated as well.

Take Action Here

Want more talking points in support of the NEA? View the NEA Issue Brief for FY2026 here.

New Edition of Form for Artist Visa Petitions, and New Fees to Come

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that starting July 30, 2025, it will accept only the 1/20/25 edition of the Form I-129, which is used to request approval of O and P petitions, among others. There are no changes from the prior edition, dated 1/17/25, but as always, petitioners are advised to make a habit of going to uscis.gov to download the very latest version of Form I-129 before completing and submitting a petition requesting approval. Confirm the edition date by looking at the bottom left of the page on the form and instructions. The League of American Orchestras regularly updates guidance and news about visa petitions for international guest artists on the dedicated website Artists from Abroad.

The budget and tax bill recently signed into law also includes several provisions around visa issuance, including some new and increased fees but with minimal detail as to timing, process, and next steps. We will be tracking this information and will provide guidance when more is known.

Update courtesy of the League of American Orchestras and Artists from Abroad

Issued July 9, 2025

Reconciliation Package Passed in Congress and Signed into Law

After months of debate and negotiations, H.R. 1, referred to as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” was passed by Congress and signed into law on July 4. The major tax package directly impacts the nonprofit sector and its ability to serve communities nationwide. OPERA America's partner, the National Council of Nonprofits, posted an analysis of the final bill, which contains key provisions such as:

1. A permanent universal charitable deduction for nonitemizers, for giving up to $1,000 for individuals and $2,000 for joint filers.

2. A 35% rate-of-deductibility cap on all itemized deductions for high-income individuals, a 1% floor for charitable contributions by corporations, and a new 0.5% floor for charitable deductions by itemizers. Together, these provisions are expected to reduce resources for nonprofit organizations.

3.  A permanent extension of the 60% Adjusted Gross Income limit for cash contributions to charity. (This would have otherwise reverted to 50%.)

The budget provisions of the new law include two arts-related items of note: 1) an allocation of $40 million relating to building the National Garden of American Heroes and the America 250 celebrations referenced in recent Executive Orders, and 2) $256.657 million, available until September 30, 2029, for capital repair, restoration, maintenance, and security structures for the Kennedy Center.

Recissions Package in the Senate

With the major reconciliation package passed, the Senate is expected to consider the rescissions package this week and next. As a reminder, the recission package passed the House and includes eliminating $1.1 billion in already approved funding for public media. If enacted, it would strip essential services from communities nationwide — and could force rural stations off the air entirely. Congress has until July 18 to pass the rescissions package, so Senate action will happen either next week or the following week. Take action here — Urge Congress: Save Public Media

The Administration Has Declined to Release Nearly $7 Billion in Federal Funding for School Programs

The administration has declined to release nearly $7 billion in federal funding that helps pay for after-school and summer programs, support for students learning English, teacher training and other services. Many opera companies have school programs in partnership with organizations such as the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, which has released this statement in response to the withheld funds.

Ticketing Reform Under Consideration by DOJ and FTC

On July 7, a dozen national organizations in the nonprofit performing arts sector, including OPERA America, submitted comments in partnership in response to a recent request for information from the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regarding ticketing for live events. An executive order directs the agencies to prepare recommendations to combat unfair and anticompetitive practices, and future regulatory or legislative recommendations may prompt additional open public comment periods on the topic of ticketing reform for the live entertainment industry.

Issued June 30, 2025

NEA Granting Updates

1. The NEA has published funding priorities for the FY2026 GAP2 applications, along with an updated deadline schedule.

2. Additionally, the NEA has revised the Assurance of Compliance language and issued a corresponding FAQ.

3. Please review your grant portal for recent information concerning terminated grants and fund drawdowns.

The Supreme Court, in a 6-3 Vote, Grants the Administration’s Request to Narrow Injunctions Blocking Birthright Citizenship Order

The justices, in a 6-3 vote along ideological lines, said that in most cases, judges can only grant relief to the parties who brought a particular lawsuit and may not extend those decisions to protect other individuals without going through the process of converting a suit into a class action. The ruling Friday came in connection with three lawsuits where judges granted nationwide injunctions against an executive order the president signed on the first day of his second term, seeking to deny American citizenship to children born in the U.S. to foreigners on short-term visas and those without legal status. The ruling will also sharply scale back injunctions against other administration policies. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates on the impact of this ruling as additional information becomes available.

Issued June 16, 2025

NEA announces "Celebrating America250: Arts Projects Honoring the National Garden of American Heroes" Special Grant Opportunity

In anticipation of the 250th anniversary of American Independence in 2026, the National Endowment for the Arts announced today, Friday, that they will offer grants of $25,000 each (no cost share required) for arts projects in any discipline that celebrate the contributions to American history of one or more of the national heroes listed in Executive Order 13978 of January 18, 2021. Proposals for works of art can be in a range of formats: plays, operas, literary arts, concerts, visual arts, museum exhibitions, etc. that honor these individuals. Projects may take place in any of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. jurisdictions. Deadline: Monday, July 14, 2025. More can be found on the NEA’s website here. 

House passes recissions package - Take Action with the Senate against Cuts to Public Radio and Public Broadcasting!

The House voted 214-212 on Thursday to pass the GOP’s $9.4 billion rescission package, marking the first test of the Trump administration’s attempts to codify clawbacks of what it calls wasteful spending. The measure would cancel $8.3 billion in foreign aid and $1.1 billion in taxpayer support for public broadcasting. Public radio and television in communities large and small bring music programming to countless new audiences. Contact your Senators urging them to oppose these cuts today by using this form from the American Coalition for Public Radio!

Senate Finance Committee Releases Legislative Text

Monday, the Senate Finance Committee released legislative text for its part of the reconciliation package. Our partner, the National Council of Nonprofits, also has a detailed overview of the bill and its impact on charitable nonprofit. The Council on Foundations has also updated a detailed summary of the bill.

The Senate Finance Committee text includes the following changes from the House-passed version:

1. It contains no tiered increase to the private foundation excise tax; 

2. It establishes a charitable deduction for nonitemizers of $1,000 for individuals and $2,000 for joint filers; and  

3. It maintains the 60% increased charitable deduction for itemizers but includes a 0.5% floor  

This process is ongoing and many things can change. The Charitable Giving Coalition is also urging advocates to reach out their members of Congress about supporting expanding access to the charitable deduction.

Federal Funding Update – Fiscal Year 2026

Congress has begun the Appropriations process to fund the federal government for FY26. The White House’s budget request, which proposed eliminating funding for the NEA, NEH, and IMLS, is only a proposal. Congress determines the final appropriations for these agencies. It is imperative that advocates make their voices heard in speaking to the vital work and precedent of the NEA. There are also many opportunities this summer for in-person meetings as Congress is on recess. For example, The House is currently not in session and representatives will most likely be back in home districts June 14 – 22. Also, you may begin to consider planning a meeting during your officials’ July and August recesses. The NEA Issue Brief, which was created in partnership with the Cultural Advocacy Coalition, as well as state specific data can help in your discussions with elected officials. Our advocacy toolkit includes resources for how to effectively communicate with elected officials. Our Cultural Advocacy Partner, the American Alliance of Museums, also has a robust guide for meetings with your members of Congress.  

Latest on IMLS Court Cases

ALA v. Sonderling: On June 6, 2025, in the case ALA v. Sonderling filed by Democracy Forward on behalf of the American Library Association and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Workers, the Judge decided not to grant a preliminary injunction while the courts continue to decide the merits of the case. This does not mean the case is over, it means that the Judge will not put into place an order stopping the Administration from further dismantling IMLS while the parties litigate the legal issues.  

The Judge's opinion stated that other pending cases seeking reinstatement of grants have questioned whether those types of cases belong in the US Court of Federal Claims as opposed to Federal District Court and therefore creating questions as to whether or not this case is in the proper court. The Judge further noted that a preliminary injunction is "an extraordinary remedy" and that a plaintiff must make a clear showing of "a substantial likelihood of success on the merits" in order for one to be issued.   Key takeaway: With the lack of clarity on the proper court jurisdiction, the Judge decided this case did not meet the standard for a preliminary injunction. This means that the June 6 decision should not change the current status of your grant.

Rhode Island v. Trump: The preliminary injunction that was put into place May 13 in the case filed by the 21 State Attorneys General, Rhode Island v. Trump, is still in effect.  The Judge in that case ordered IMLS to:

1. reverse the actions taken by the Administration to implement the Executive Order;

2. not further pause or terminate IMLS grants or contracts to grantees in the plaintiff's 21 states; and

3. restore the grants to grantees in the plaintiff's 21 states. 

Key takeaway: IMLS staff have returned to work, and library and museum grantees in those 21 states have their IMLS grants reinstated. This preliminary injunction is in place while the court continues to consider the merits of the case as to whether a permanent injunction should be put in place. The government has appealed the Judge's order of the preliminary injunction and requested a stay of the injunction while the appeal is being considered. The Judge declined to issue a stay, and the preliminary injunction remains in effect until the government's appeal is considered or until a decision is made on the merits of a permanent injunction.  As noted in the reinstatement letters grantees received, it is unclear how long the reinstatements will last given the government's appeal and ongoing court actions.

The court actions are expected to be a lengthy process and uncertainty around the future of IMLS will likely continue for some time.

Also this week, Senators Edward Markey (D-MA) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) sent a letter to IMLS Acting Director Keith Sonderling expressing concerns over the gutting of IMLS and requesting answers regarding grant terminations and the future of IMLS.

Update Courtesy of the American Alliance of Museums.

GAO declares Administration pause on museum, library funds illegal

The Government Accountability Office has ruled that the Administration is illegally holding back funding appropriated by Congress for the Institute of Museum and Library Sciences. An Executive Order issued in March called for all nonstatutory functions at IMLS to be “eliminated to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law”. Deputy Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling, the interim director of IMLS, drastically reduced the agency’s operations following that order, the GAO said. The decisions are nonbinding, however, though the GAO has the statutory authority to sue for the release of the funds. In May, a GAO spokesperson suggested that there was no plan to do so, instead saying that “changes to these policies and priorities can be addressed through the legislative process with Congress and the Administration.” The spokesperson confirmed Monday that the organization’s position hasn’t changed. 

We will continue to monitor the situation and any implications it may have for other areas of federal funding.

Update Courtesy of Congressional Quarterly

Key Advocacy Issues

Prepare to take action by reviewing the key issues with downloadable briefs prepared by the Cultural Action Group.