As assumedThe Trump administration has now officially set goals against the national talent of art by revoking funds that were already allocated or recommended. This was a circumstance that Film Festival Alliance and other organizations have been preparing since Trump took office in January.
FFA’s CEO Barbara Twist wrote in an e-mail to member organizations earlier this year to submit granted expenses as soon as possible or even limit the scope of the project to ensure that they could be covered in the past. However, these options may no longer be available.
So now Twist and FFA have written new guidance on how to appeal a potential termination of funds. This was shared on Sunday 4 May with FFA members and can be found below (language with permission of Film Festival Alliance).
Last Updated: May 4, 12:00 et et et et
If you have received a Termination message or Notice of Withdown Financing Recommendation From the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), follow this unofficial step-by-step guide to understand what measures you need to take and how you remain in compliance.
Note: Keep your eyes open for a link to collect data on layoffs and withdrawn offers, which will be combined with the information collected from NEH/IMLS/NSF, and provide the ability to sort by congress district. This will be a useful tool for demonstrating the wide effect of these closings/withdrawn offers.
Please note that this is not intended as legal advice and none of this information should override advice from your own organization or from official sources.
Action objects
1. Check the official final date
The performance period of your award is now changed administratively eventually on May 31, 2025. You cannot incur or charge costs beyond this date.
2. Appeal (if eligible):
If you think your project supports one of the new NEA financing priorities, you can appeal the dismissal within 7 calendar days from the message. E -Post grips@arts.gov with documentation showing your project meets the new priorities.
Deadline for submitting the appeal: Friday 9 May, before 23:59 Eastern time.
If your message was received on Friday, May 2, seven (7) Calendar Days would be Friday 9 May. It is strongly recommended to submit before 23:59 Eastern time (ET), as ET is usually the standard time zone for other NEA-related deadlines.
● Give documentation that your project supports one (or more) of the specific priorities specified in your letter of termination: The Nea is Now Prioritizing Projects That Elevate The Nation’s HBCUS and Hispanic Serving Institution, Celebrate The 250th Anniversary of American Independence, Foster AI Competency, Empower Houses of Worship to Serve Communities, Assist with Disaser Recoits Recoys Again, Support the Military and Veterans, Support Tribal Communities, Make the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful, and Support The Economic Development of Asian American Communities.
● Examples of appeal template found here: Appeal template draft
● Note! The success of an appeal is unlikely, but it is worth following the appeal process for documentation if you believe there are any relationships between your project and any of the priorities.
3. Send payment requests (If applicable)
Deadline for submitting final payment requests: June 30, 2025.
If you incurred any permitted project -related costs before 31 May 2025:
● Use NEA’s EGMS system to submit your final payment request by June 30, 2025.
● As mentioned in your cancellation letter, failure will submit a final payment request on this date will result in the shutdown of your award’s remaining financing.
● What are permitted project -related costs?
o Each payment request must reflect permissible project -related expenses that have already arisen (a refund) and/or expenses that you expect to incur on May 31, 2025 (an advance, as these would be for expenses that are expected to arise within thirty (30) calendar days from the request).
o Each assigned contributor has one Approved budget on the file (on the “Files” tab for range).
o Each line object on your approved postal budget is a permitted cost. You can transfer among direct costs in your approved budget. This means that if your approved budget included wages/salaries or artist fees in your budget, you can control the rest of your grant money for these costs. You must maintain documentation of all costs charged the award.
o The dollar amount for an approved line object may differ (for reason, as long as you can prove that the new amount is project -related and you maintain documentation). Only actual, permitted and approved costs incurred within the revised performance period may be required.
o It is currently unclear whether cancellation costs arising from the dismissal would be allowed. However, this alternative was offered for completed NEH grants and should be considered.
o For further guidance on payment requests, see the section ‘Tips for preparing your payment request’ in Nea Award Handbook.
o You should be able to submit both a final payment request and an appeal (which will probably not succeed, but worth following the appeal process).
4. Submit your final federal financial report (FFR)
Deadline: Must be submitted no later than July 31, 2025.
● FFR should only reflect costs incurred during the revised performance period (5/31/2025).
● All other final and/or interim performance reporting requirements are canceled, including the final descriptive report and the geographical site of project activity (GEO).
● Failure to submit an FFR on this date may lead to your organization not being eligible for future national talent for art financing opportunities. All other provisions of your award, including record requirements, remain in force.
Action objects
This message would have been received if you had a tentative financing recommendation (in the “offer” stage) that is revoked by NEA. If your project was recommended but did not receive an award message, no legal agreement was set up. NEA is not obliged to finance the project, so the only alternative is to submit an appeal.
● Archive an appeal (if eligible) of Friday 9 May, before 23:59 Eastern time.
○ See the information described above in the guidance for completed prices
○ Examples of appeal template found here: Appeal template draft
● Make sure not to use NEA brand or recognition for the unfounded project.
Keeping you up to date will all updates to this procedure, Click here.
This news comes when Trump promotes his attacks on the art sector in American Business. On Sunday, the president took the truth social and threatened to impose a “100% customs on all films entering our country produced in foreign countries. “Trump is also trying to reduce funding from PBS and NPR.
