October Advocacy Update: Federal Government Shutdown: What It Means for the Creative West Community

On October 1, 2025, at 12:01 a.m., the federal government shut down after Congress was unable to agree on a short-term funding measure. The immediate disagreement centers on whether to continue federal support that helps people pay for health insurance.

While a larger policy debate is unfolding in Washington, the immediate effects of a shutdown are being felt beyond the Capitol. Shutdowns create uncertainty and stress. Federal agencies scale back operations, staff are furloughed, and payments to grantees are delayed. We know for the arts and culture sector these disruptions can be especially hard.

What This Means for Our Partners and Stakeholders

First, we recognize that shutdowns cause hardship. We know this moment is challenging, and we want our partners to know: you are not alone in this.

Second, we recognize that government shutdowns create real challenges for cultural organizations, staff, and the communities you serve. While each organization’s situation is unique, several pressures might begin to emerge across the sector:

• Disrupted cash flow. Grants may be delayed, which can affect payroll, programming, and day-to-day operations, especially for smaller organizations that rely on federal support.
• Increased operational strain. Teams are balancing the uncertainty of funding with the ongoing work of serving communities. Monitoring updates, revising budgets, and communicating with partners or funders adds significant administrative load at a time when staff are already stretched.
• Impact on programs and communities. Projects supported by NEA, NEH, and IMLS may need to be scaled back or postponed, which can limit access to arts and cultural opportunities for creative workers and audiences across the country.
• Planning uncertainty. With fiscal year 2026 budgets still under debate in Congress, organizations face added difficulty making strategic decisions for the year ahead.

These disruptions underscore how critical reliable federal support is to sustaining arts and culture nationwide.

How Creative West Is Supporting the Field

We are closely tracking the shutdown and its impact on cultural organizations nationwide and are in active communication with federal partners, state arts agencies, and peer organizations to understand what this means on the ground and to ensure the voices of our field are heard.

During this time, Creative West will continue to:

• Monitor developments and share reliable updates with our networks.
• Consult with and field questions with partners navigating uncertainty and funding delays.
• Advocate for stability by making sure policymakers understand the real-world consequences for cultural organizations and communities.

Federal Cultural Agency Shutdown Contingency Plans

According to the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, each federal agency will post its own shutdown plan on their agency website:

• National Endowment for the Arts (NEA): Lapse in Funding Plan, dated October 1, 2025
• National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH): Lapse in Funding Plan, dated September 2025
• Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS): Closed until further notice (no grant payments or communication during the shutdown)

What You Can Do

Creative West will continue to share updates as the situation develops. In the meantime, here are some steps you can take:

• Stay connected. Visit our Action Center for ongoing news and resources.
• Share your story now. Reach out to your elected officials to let them know how the shutdown is affecting your work. Firsthand stories of delayed payments, paused programs, or budget uncertainty are powerful.
• Advocate for the future. Join our Federal Cultural Agencies FY26 Funding Campaign to ensure that policymakers hear from the arts community about the need for stable, reliable funding.

Thank you for all you continue to do to keep arts and culture thriving in your communities, even in moments of uncertainty.