Trump Nominates Mary Anne Carter to Lead National Endowment for the Arts Amid Agency Turmoil

The New York Times reports that President Donald Trump has nominated Mary Anne Carter to lead the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), according to Senate records filed Tuesday. The nomination comes as the agency faces renewed efforts to eliminate its funding under the administration’s proposed budget, along with internal challenges following a series of grant cancellations and staff resignations.

Carter previously chaired the NEA during Trump’s first term. Despite earlier defunding proposals, the agency’s budget ultimately increased during her tenure with bipartisan support from Congress. She is currently serving as a senior adviser at the agency.

Before joining the NEA, Carter worked as a policy adviser in Florida under then-Governor Rick Scott and later founded MAC Research, a public affairs consultancy. Her nomination signals a continuation of the administration’s cultural agenda at a time of transition and uncertainty for the arts agency.