Cuts have hit the Berkeley Repertory Theater in California, Central Park Summer Stage in New York, and the Chicago-area Open Studio Project, NPR reported. Programs were eliminated at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, and a Pittsburgh-area grant designed to teach black girls to create artificial intelligence tools was canceled.

It is part of an effort by the embattled Department of Government Efficiency and the Trump administration to cut what supporters say is wasteful government spending and the funding of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.

“For too long these governmental bodies, which are, in fact, agencies or divisions of the federal government, have basically had a free pass to do whatever they want and spend whatever they want,” Republican strategist Dennis Lennox said. “It’s not unreasonable to rein them in or ensure that their programming and public face reflects, at least broadly speaking, the national interest.”

That mindset was also behind the reported firing of National Portrait Gallery director Kim Sajet, whom Trump blasted in a Truth Social post.

“She is a highly partisan person, and a strong supporter of DEI, which is totally inappropriate for her position,” Trump wrote. “Her replacement will be named shortly.”

For now, Sajet is still reporting to work, and Democrats have said Trump does not have the authority to fire her. A similar showdown has emerged at the Library of Congress, where Trump announced in May that he would fire Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden, the first woman and first black person to hold the position.

Hayden’s backers say the president does not have the authority to fire her either, and even some Republicans say that Congress should be in control of the Library of Congress, not the president.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the move, saying Hayden “did not fit the needs of the American people,” pursued DEI initiatives, and put “inappropriate books in the library for children,” necessitating her removal. But the battle continues over who has ultimate authority over the library and who will lead it going forward.

All of these fights fit into a wider cultural conflict between Trump and Democrats over what kinds of programs taxpayer money should support.

“Tonight, President Trump fired a patriotic public servant,” Rep. Joe Morelle (D-NY) said when the Hayden firing was announced. “President Trump’s ignorant decision will impact America’s libraries, our copyrighted economic interests, and service to the American people by threatening support for Congress. His decision is a complete disgrace.”

However, while Democratic strategist Brad Bannon condemned the arts cuts, he said the party should remain focused on defeating Trump’s “big, beautiful” reconciliation bill.

“The cuts are dreadful,” Bannon said. “Society needs a thriving arts community. But they pale in comparison to the cuts that Trump and Republicans are seeking in Medicaid and even Medicare.”

“Democrats have to remember to keep their eyes on the prize,” he added.

The Kennedy Center shake-up has drawn the most attention as Trump named himself chairman of the institution’s board and installed former administration official Richard Grenell as its president.

Reports have circulated that Kennedy Center subscriptions are down by 36% in the wake of the controversy, which its new leadership blasted as fake news.

“Your comparison isn’t accurate because of several factors,” Kennedy Center Vice President of Marketing Kim Cooper said in a statement, explaining that it launched its season ticket renewal campaign later this year than last year and is offering more flexibility to patrons. “We have upcoming announcements across all genres including Broadway Center Stage and new genres that we know will have strong appeal across all audiences.”

Broadway legend Patti LuPone spoke out last month, saying the institution “should get blown up” following its reorganization under Trump, prompting another rebuke from Grenell.

“The far Left has morphed into violent extremists,” Grenell, who is also Trump’s special presidential envoy for special missions, told the Washington Examiner. “This is completely unacceptable — from the same people who claim to be for tolerance and diversity. Everyone should condemn these radicals.”

Similar stories are playing out on a smaller scale across the country as funding cuts affect local theaters.

Arts organizations in Indianapolis are worried about cuts to summer concert series and programs for underserved communities. The Charlotte Street Foundation, a Kansas City-based arts group, lost a $25,000 grant and fears it will be unable to afford artist residencies. On the West Coast, the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus saw a $38,000 grant it says it had been receiving annually for decades rescinded.

“Rage, anger, like someone is trying to minimize you, tell you your stories don’t matter,” Jacob Stensberg, artistic director and conductor of the chorus, told local news station KTVU. “That’s not a new thing for the LGBTQ community.”

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But many Republicans see the issue differently, arguing that institutions receiving taxpayer money should be accountable to the wishes of voters and the people they elect to represent them.

“Of course, the real question is whether cultural or arts bodies should be part of the government,” Lennox said. “A private organization can do whatever it wants. These bodies have historically overwhelmingly catered to a tiny sliver of the population — predominantly white, gentry liberals. Maybe those people should pay for their own arts and culture.”