WASHINGTON (AP) -- The National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities are each facing a 13 percent reduction in President Barack Obama's budget proposal, drawing objections from arts advocates.
Obama's 2012 fiscal year budget plan unveiled Monday cites fiscal constraints in reducing the budgets for both endowments by nearly $22 million from their 2010 highs of $167.5 million.
The Office of Management and Budget says the agencies are working to coordinate and consolidate their administrative functions to reduce overhead costs and offset some of the cuts.
The advocacy group Americans for the Arts issued a statement saying the Obama administration had "missed the mark" with such a "drastic reduction." The group says the arts funds spur job growth and innovation.