Government Affairs Update: FY26 Funding Bills, U.S. Pulls Out of International Arts Organizations, Artist Visas, CPB Dissolves

The political landscape in Washington, DC continues to evolve daily. Chorus America needs to hear from you: How are the federal government’s actions affecting your work? All stories of specific impact are welcome. Please share your experience here. Thank you to those members who have already shared their stories with us. 

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These government affairs updates are provided for informational purposes only and are not intended as legal advice. Nonprofit arts organizations should consult with legal counsel for guidance specific to their circumstances.

FY26 Funding Bills Move to the President for Signature

Yesterday, January 15, the Senate passed the FY26 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act with overwhelming bi-partisan support (82-15).  The Act awards $207 Million, or level funding, to the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities.  This is a strong showing of bi-partisan, bi-cameral action in support of arts funding, despite the Administration’s previous call to eliminate the arts agencies. The bill now moves to the President’s desk for signature. 

Read the Senate’s Statement, here.

Read the bill actions and text, here.

U.S. Pulls Out of International Arts Organizations

Earlier this month, the White House announced the U.S. was pulling out of 66 International and United Nations-affiliated organizations. The list includes several arts-related organizations, including the International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies (IFACCA), the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM), the Freedom Online Coalition, the UN Democracy Fund (UNDEF), and the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women).

“At a moment when artists around the world are facing escalating censorship, digital surveillance, forced displacement, and gender-based violence, international cooperation is essential,” said Julie Trébault, Executive Director of ARC – Artists at Risk Connection. “U.S. disengagement from institutions that uphold freedom of expression, artistic freedom, cultural rights, and the rule of law weakens the global protective frameworks on which artists and cultural workers depend.”

Read the full statement from the Artists at Risk Connection, here.

Artist Visas Updates

Choral groups intending to bring foreign guest artists into the U.S. need to continue to pay very close attention to the shifting visa application process and immigration policies.  This week, the Administration placed a freeze on processing visas from 75 countries, though the freeze currently does not apply to temporary employment visas, such as the O and P artist visas.  In addition, the list of countries with partial or full travel bans was expanded to 38. 

Read the State Department’s post here.

Read the Council on Foreign Relation’s post, here.

As reported last week, visa Premium Processing Service fees will increase to $2,965 beginning March 1, 2026. Read the alert, here.

Corporation for Public Broadcasting Votes to Dissolve

On January 5, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) voted to dissolve after 58 years in service.  The CPB was a private, nonprofit corporation created by Congress to oversee the federal government’s public media funding. Public media is a vital partner for music, a place for distribution, arts education, broadcasting live performances and more.  CPB reports that: 

While CPB’s chapter is ending, the mission of public media endures. Local stations, producers, journalists, and educators across the country will continue serving their communities, informing the public, and elevating local voices. 

Read the full statement from CPB, here.