Federal legislative initiatives supporting domestic entertainment production gained decisive momentum following high-level bipartisan endorsements.
On November 13, 2026, former President Donald Trump publicly called on Congress to expedite passage of a national film and television tax credit. Representative-elect Laura Friedman, a Democrat from California, and bipartisan coalition leaders issued statements welcoming the initiative.
Under the proposed measure, the federal government would institute a 20 percent tax credit on qualifying domestic labor expenses for motion pictures, television pilots, and full seasons; projects must maintain minimum overall production budgets of $1 million, and at least 75 percent of principal photography days must take place within the United States.
In an official congressional statement, Representative Laura Friedman said that when productions leave the country, local crew members, gaffers, and carpenters lose their livelihoods, and that a 20 percent federal tax credit creates a fair competitive playing field, bringing thousands of high-wage technical jobs back to American studio stages. The bipartisan Congressional American Film and Television Production Caucus was established in late 2026; it is co-chaired in the House by Representatives Laura Friedman, Linda Sanchez, Brian Jack, and Nathaniel Moran, alongside Senators Adam Schiff and Tim Scott in the Senate. An economic impact assessment published by entertainment labor researchers projected that enacting a federal film tax credit would generate approximately 143,000 direct and indirect jobs across production ecosystems nationwide. Production crews have faced persistent competition from foreign tax shelters in the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, which provide national rebates reaching 35 percent. Entertainment labor organizations, including the Directors Guild of America and IATSE, launched unified lobbying operations to advocate for floor votes during the upcoming congressional session. California Governor Gavin Newsom recently proposed lifting the state's annual film credit cap to $1 billion.
