Eliminating arts funding programs will save Donald Trump just 0.0625% of budget
'It’s sad in a way because those programs aren’t causing the deficit. These programs don’t amount to a hill of beans'
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.It emerged over the weekend that Donald Trump is moving forward with his plans to axe the National Endowments for the Arts and the Humanities (which partially funds NPR and PBS), the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and other programs as he looks to prune public spending.
The White House budget office has drafted a “hit list” of programs, according to The New York Times, all of which cost under $500 million a year to run. In fact, they total approximately $2.5 billion - just 0.0625% of the projected $4 trillion budget.
UPDATE 16/3: Trump is now formally proposing these cuts
“It’s sad in a way because those programs aren’t causing the deficit,” Steve Bell of the Bipartisan Policy Center told the Times. “These programs don’t amount to a hill of beans.”
Administration officials are apparently aware of the comparatively minuscule cuts, but want to make examples of the programs as ‘wastes of taxpayer money’.
Robert L. Lynch, head of Americans for the Arts, a nonprofit, sees it differently.
“The public wants to see agencies like the N.E.A. continue,” he added to the Times.
“There is always a debate, but there has been agreement among Republicans and Democrats that funding for the arts is a good thing, and it has been kept in place.”
Concurrently, Trump's weekend Mar-a-Lago getaways are costing taxpayers an estimated $3 million.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments