President Trump has nominated Mary Anne Carter as chair of the National Endowment for the Arts, tapping the same woman who led the independent agency during his first administration as he seeks to gut its budget.
Ms. Carter, a former chief policy adviser to then-Florida Gov. Rick Scott, ran the NEA from 2019 to 2021.
She would replace Shelly Lowe, who led the NEA in the Biden administration and resigned in March “at the direction of President Trump.”
According to Congress’ website, Mr. Trump on Tuesday recommended Ms. Carter as a “privileged nomination,” fast-tracking a Senate committee hearing.
Her nomination to a four-year term comes as the Trump administration proposes a budget calling on Congress to eliminate the NEA, which provides hundreds of millions of dollars annually to artists and public institutions nationwide.
That policy could fuel Democratic opposition to Ms. Carter, whom the Senate unanimously confirmed in 2019 for her first term.
“Given the unprecedented political moment, I wish Mary Anne the best in reimagining the NEA,” Justin Shubow, president of the nonprofit National Civic Art Society, said Thursday.
In a statement to The Washington Times, a Trump administration spokeswoman expressed confidence in Ms. Carter.
“Mary Anne Carter will play a pivotal role in ushering in the Golden Age of American art and culture,” said Liz Huston.
