News
Mary Anne Carter Reappointed as Chair of National Endowment for the Arts
Political consultant Mary Anne Carter, who previously led the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) during Trump’s first presidency, has been reappointed as the chair of the agency following Senate approval.
Mary Anne Carter will serve as chair of the National Endowment for the Arts. (photo courtesy NEA)
Following the departure of Maria Rosario Jackson, the first African American and Mexican-American person to lead the NEA, Carter’s reappointment comes after a tumultuous period for the agency. In the past year, the NEA made significant cuts to arts grants, focusing instead on promoting skilled trade jobs and AI competency. The termination of the Challenge America grant program, which supported underserved communities, also caused controversy within the agency.
Despite criticisms of her previous ties to the Trump administration, Carter expressed her commitment to the arts in a recent statement. She emphasized the importance of the arts in creating, innovating, healing, and promoting economic stability within communities. Carter also highlighted the agency’s upcoming initiatives for America’s 250th anniversary celebrations in 2026 and its continued research on the healing power of the arts.
While Carter’s background may lack specific experience in arts and culture, her previous tenure at the NEA and her roles in political consulting and policy advising indicate a strong foundation for leading the agency. Her official approval by the Senate comes at a time when the arts community is closely watching the direction of the NEA under her leadership.
The reappointment of Carter coincides with other developments in the arts sector, such as the renaming of the Kennedy Center for the Arts to the “Trump-Kennedy Center,” reflecting the influence of the former president on cultural institutions in Washington, DC.
