Programs for arts spared for second year in a row

Once again, federal funding for the arts has been spared.

The $1.3 trillion spending bill signed Friday by President Donald Trump continues support for the National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities and other agencies he sought to eliminate.

It’s the second straight year Congress restored funding in response to Trump’s calls for ending such programs as the NEH, the NEA and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

The NEH and NEA each will receive $3 million increases, to just under $153 million per agency. The Cpb’sbudgetwaskeptthesame,at $465 million. The Institute of Museum and Library Services is getting a $9 million increase, to $240 million.