Trump-Appointed NEA Chair Begins Second Term

Mary Anne Carter Returns as Chair of the National Endowment for the Arts

Mary Anne Carter is set to return as the head of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) after receiving Senate approval. This appointment marks her second tenure as chair, having previously led the agency during the first Trump administration. Carter’s reinstatement follows the resignation of Maria Rosario Jackson, who left the post shortly after President Trump’s second inauguration. Jackson, a prominent figure, was the first African American and Mexican-American to lead the NEA.

Under Carter’s leadership during her first term, she was involved in efforts that aligned with the Trump administration’s focus on promoting skilled trade jobs, AI competency, and supporting the military and veterans. Amid shifts in prioritization, the NEA had controversially rescinded various arts grants, and discontinued the Challenge America program, aimed at underserved communities. These actions led to significant resignations within the NEA, and Trump had proposed eliminating the agency in a recent budget proposal.

In a recent legal development, the American Civil Liberties Union successfully sued the NEA over stipulations that refrained grant applicants from endorsing “gender ideology” as defined by the administration. Carter’s earlier career includes serving on Trump’s inaugural committee, advising Governor Rick Scott, and holding roles in conservative think tanks.

Despite her political experience, Carter does not have a documented background specifically in arts or culture, contrary to Jackson, a former professor at the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts. In a statement, Carter emphasized the arts’ crucial role across various societal aspects, looking forward to celebrating America’s 250th anniversary and continuing the NEA’s work in arts-related healing.

Carter’s nomination was first announced in May, with her official approval occurring recently. Concurrently, the Kennedy Center for the Arts in Washington, DC, chaired by Trump, has been renamed the “Trump-Kennedy Center,” a decision marked by the addition of Trump’s name to the building’s facade.