In the first month of his second term, President Donald Trump has launched an aggressive campaign against free expression, marginalized communities’ representation and equity, and public arts funding. This has sent shockwaves through the artistic and cultural sectors. These actions, which include seizing control of the Kennedy Center and imposing ideological restrictions on National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) funding are part of a broader crackdown that threatens the future of diverse artistic expression in the United States.
One of the most alarming moves came when Trump removed the leadership of the Kennedy Center, installed his own loyalists on the board, and declared himself chairman. This unprecedented intervention has sparked outrage within the arts community, leading some artists to cancel their scheduled appearances in protest. In response to these drastic changes, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt justified the move, stating, “The Kennedy Center learned the hard way that if you go woke, you will go broke.” Trump himself took to his social media platform to announce his plans to “make the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., GREAT AGAIN,” reinforcing his commitment to reshaping the institution to reflect his narrow vision of American culture.
Beyond targeting institutions, the Trump administration has also imposed severe restrictions on federal arts funding, particularly through the NEA. Under a new executive order, the NEA will no longer provide grants to projects that promote what the administration refers to as “gender ideology.” This condition, which stems from Trump’s broader attack on LGBTQ+ rights, specifically jeopardizes funding for projects addressing LGBTQ+ themes and issues of gender identity. This policy aligns with a wider conservative push to suppress discussions of gender diversity, a strategy that has already been used to justify attacks on transgender athletes and LGBTQ+ rights more broadly.
This crackdown on the arts is part of a larger authoritarian effort to reshape American cultural institutions in a way that erases the experiences of marginalized communities. By weaponizing government resources to silence dissenting voices, Trump’s administration is engaging in an unprecedented assault on artistic freedom and cultural diversity. The consequences of these policies will be far-reaching, particularly for artists and organizations that rely on federal funding to continue their work.
In response to these threats, advocacy groups and arts organizations, including Americans for the Arts, and the Theatre Communications Group, are mobilizing to resist these attacks and defend artistic freedom. These groups are working to support affected artists, challenge unjust policies, and ensure that diverse voices continue to be heard.
For more information on how to take action and support the arts in this critical moment, please refer to the following resources:
The Lobby Project is Theatre Communications Group’s nationwide initiative to open theatre lobbies for dialogue, non-partisan public events, fostering civic engagement around election day and beyond. In a time of rising polarization and democratic backsliding, theatre’s civic role increasingly carries risk. Executive orders and legislation at the state and federal level target the free expression that is the lifeblood of theatre, as well as the safety and autonomy of members of our theatre community. In response, theatre workers are speaking up and taking action, building on a long tradition of arts activism. Assessing Risk: Taking Risk is a tool intended to support theatre boards, staff, and freelance theatre workers in strategically reducing risk while maximizing the impact of action. That means organizing to build our collective power.
