“You can’t just go to Congress with your hat in your hand.” You have to make the case that the arts are an economic engine. Landesman continues to characterize the NEA’s budget of $155 million as “pathetic,” although he says he’s been advised that saying so is impolitic. “The State Department has more money for the arts in its budget than the NEA,” he said. “The Department of Defense is the single biggest purchaser of musical instruments in this country.”