President Donald Trump is calling on Congress to create a federal film and television production incentive, throwing White House support behind an idea that has been gaining bipartisan momentum in Washington.
Following a meeting with actor and Hollywood adviser Jon Voight, Trump urged Republicans and Democrats to work together on legislation designed to make filming in the United States more competitive with international production hubs.
“Congress should approve, immediately, a Federal Production Incentive to create Entertainment Jobs in America,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on August 31. He also said meetings were being arranged with leaders from both political parties.
The proposal could have major implications for actors, filmmakers, crew members, vendors and production communities nationwide if legislation ultimately passes.
However, there is an important distinction: Trump has endorsed the concept, but Congress has not yet passed a new federal production incentive. The structure, size and eligibility requirements of any eventual program remain to be negotiated.
Donald Trump Wants Congress to Act Quickly on Hollywood Tax Incentives
Trump described the current state of domestic film production in stark terms, arguing that the United States has lost too much work to countries offering competitive financial incentives.
In his Truth Social post, the president said Hollywood was getting “very little work” and argued that the decline was hurting California. He specifically pointed toward Canada and other international production markets as destinations attracting projects that might otherwise film domestically.
Trump’s proposed solution is a federal production incentive that could potentially work alongside existing state-level film and television incentives.
That stacking ability could prove important.
States including California, Georgia, New York, New Jersey and others already use incentive programs to compete for productions. A federal program could add another financial layer, potentially helping American locations compete against countries such as Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia.
Donald Trump Says Jon Voight Helped Push the Proposal
Donald Trump specifically credited Jon Voight with advocating for federal production incentives during their recent meeting.
Voight has served as one of Trump’s special Hollywood ambassadors and has spent more than a year discussing ways to strengthen domestic entertainment production.
The actor and his associates previously presented the administration with several possible approaches. Trump publicly floated the much more controversial idea of imposing tariffs on movies produced outside the United States in 2025, but those tariffs were not ultimately implemented.
Attention has since shifted toward incentives designed to make producing in America financially attractive rather than penalizing productions for filming abroad.
Trump’s latest endorsement represents a significant development because entertainment industry advocates have already been lobbying members of Congress for federal support.
Why Hollywood Wants a Federal Production Incentive
The underlying concern is often described as runaway production: film and television projects choosing international locations because they offer lower costs, favorable exchange rates, tax credits or other financial benefits.
According to the Los Angeles Times, approximately 45% of U.S. films and scripted television programs were shot internationally last year, compared with roughly 33% in 2022.
That shift affects far more workers than the actors audiences see on screen.
A major production can employ camera operators, costume designers, makeup artists, grips, electricians, drivers, caterers, construction crews, editors, production assistants, background actors and hundreds of other professionals.
It can also generate spending for hotels, restaurants, transportation companies, equipment rental businesses and local vendors.
Supporters therefore argue that production incentives should be viewed not simply as assistance for Hollywood studios but as an economic development tool capable of supporting local employment.
What Would a Federal Film Tax Incentive Actually Do?
The exact legislation does not yet exist in finalized form, so specific percentages and eligibility rules should not be treated as settled.
The basic concept, however, is straightforward.
A federal incentive could provide qualifying film and television productions with a federal tax benefit when they spend money and employ workers within the United States.
Crucially, industry advocates envision a national incentive that could potentially be combined with state programs.
For example, a qualifying production choosing between filming overseas and shooting in an American state could potentially consider both the state’s incentive and the new federal benefit when comparing costs.
Industry advocates believe that could narrow the financial gap between U.S. locations and established international production centers.
The Wall Street Journal reports that industry proposals under discussion have included a federal credit in the 15% to 20% range, although that figure is not yet enacted policy and could change substantially during the legislative process.
7 Key Things to Know About the Federal Film Tax Credit Push
Here are the biggest developments so far:
- Trump has publicly endorsed a federal production incentive. He is asking Congress to move quickly on legislation.
- The proposal has bipartisan support. Democrats including Sen. Adam Schiff and Rep. Laura Friedman have also been advocating for a federal film and television incentive.
- Jon Voight has played an important advocacy role. Trump credited his Hollywood ambassador with pushing the idea during their recent meeting.
- The incentive could complement state tax credits. Supporters want a federal program capable of making American production locations more competitive internationally.
- The Motion Picture Association supports the concept. The organization representing major studios and streaming companies welcomed Trump’s endorsement.
- The proposal could affect production jobs nationwide. Supporters argue that bringing productions back to America would benefit actors, crews, craftspeople and businesses supporting film shoots.
- Nothing has passed yet. Congress still needs to determine what the legislation would contain, how productions would qualify and how large the incentive would be.
For entertainment professionals, that final point is particularly important. Trump’s announcement represents political momentum rather than an immediate change to production rules.
Democrats Join Trump in Supporting the Proposal
One of the more unusual aspects of the announcement is the bipartisan response.
California Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff, a frequent political opponent of Trump, publicly agreed with the president on the need for action.
Schiff said Congress should quickly consider a federal incentive to bring entertainment jobs that have moved overseas back to the United States.
Democratic Rep. Laura Friedman, whose California district includes much of the entertainment industry, also welcomed Trump’s endorsement.
“I agree that our tax incentive legislation needs to pass — and to pass quickly,” Friedman said.
Her office says she has spent more than a year meeting with Voight, congressional colleagues, unions, studios, producers and the Motion Picture Association while building support for a national incentive.
The cooperation matters because passing a significant new federal tax incentive would require congressional action.
Hollywood Studios and Unions Welcome the Development
Major entertainment organizations were quick to respond.
The Motion Picture Association, which represents major film studios and streaming companies, described a federal incentive as a potentially landmark step toward bringing more production into American communities.
MPA chairman and CEO Charles Rivkin said such a policy could strengthen the U.S. economy while making the country more competitive as a production destination. The organization confirmed its support for Trump’s announcement on August 31.
The Directors Guild of America also welcomed the development, saying it wanted to work with the administration and Congress on bipartisan legislation that could promote domestic film and television production and support American entertainment jobs.
That combination of political, labor and studio support gives the proposal considerably more momentum than a policy being pushed by only one part of the industry.
Why Canada, the UK and Australia Matter to the Debate
International competition sits at the center of the conversation.
Canada has spent decades establishing major production centers in locations such as Vancouver and Toronto. The United Kingdom has similarly attracted blockbuster films and prestige television productions through its combination of tax incentives, experienced crews and large studio facilities.
Australia has also aggressively competed for international productions.
The issue is not necessarily that American filmmakers prefer foreign locations creatively. In many cases, large productions compare multiple jurisdictions and determine where they can stretch a production budget furthest.
Friedman specifically identified Canada, the UK and Australia when arguing that the United States needs to become more competitive.
A national incentive could change those calculations, particularly when combined with state programs.
What This Could Mean for Actors and Film Crews
For Project Casting’s audience, the most important question is whether this could eventually translate into more work.
Potentially, yes — although that depends entirely on whether Congress passes meaningful legislation and whether it successfully changes where studios choose to shoot.
If additional productions move to or remain in the United States, they could create demand for:
- Principal and supporting actors
- Background actors
- Stand-ins and photo doubles
- Stunt performers
- Production assistants
- Camera and lighting crews
- Hair, makeup and wardrobe professionals
- Set construction and art department workers
- Location and transportation teams
- Other production professionals
Productions also frequently hire locally, particularly for background roles, day players and crew positions. That means increased domestic filming could potentially expand opportunities beyond Los Angeles and New York if productions take advantage of incentives offered by other states.
California Has Its Own Production Incentive Strategy
The federal proposal comes as California has already been trying to address its production slowdown.
The state expanded its film and television tax credit program in 2025, increasing annual funding to $750 million as policymakers attempted to make California more competitive with other production locations.
A federal incentive would operate at a different level.
Instead of primarily helping California compete against Georgia, New York or New Jersey, a national incentive would be designed to help the United States collectively compete against international markets.
That distinction is important.
Under the model being discussed by advocates, states could continue competing with each other through their individual programs while qualifying productions potentially receive additional federal support for choosing the United States over another country.
Donald Trump Previously Proposed Tariffs on Foreign-Made Movies
The tax incentive proposal represents a different approach from one Trump previously floated.
In 2025, the president called for a 100% tariff on movies produced outside the United States, arguing that foreign countries were attracting American productions through their own incentives.
The announcement created immediate uncertainty because movies are intellectual property rather than conventional imported physical goods, raising complicated questions about how such a tariff would work.
No Hollywood movie tariff was ultimately implemented.
The current incentive approach instead focuses on encouraging productions to shoot domestically through financial benefits.
That strategy has attracted support from organizations and lawmakers across the political spectrum, making it potentially more viable than the earlier tariff proposal.
What Happens Next?
The most important next step will happen in Congress.
Trump says meetings are being organized with Republican and Democratic leaders to develop legislation.
Several possible legislative routes have been discussed. A federal production incentive could become part of a larger tax package, potentially move through another legislative vehicle, or be introduced as standalone legislation.
There is currently no final bill establishing:
- The exact credit percentage
- Minimum production spending requirements
- Which productions would qualify
- Requirements for employing U.S. workers
- Whether television, streaming and independent projects would receive identical treatment
- How the program would interact with existing state incentives
Those details will ultimately determine whether the policy significantly changes where studios choose to produce films and television shows.
For now, Trump’s endorsement adds White House support to an effort that already had advocates among lawmakers, unions and entertainment companies.
Why the Federal Film Incentive Could Matter to Hollywood’s Workforce
The entertainment industry’s production slowdown has become a workforce issue as much as a studio issue.
When a movie moves overseas, the economic impact extends beyond performers. Entire production ecosystems can lose work, including independent vendors and businesses that rely on location filming.
A federal incentive could therefore influence where billions of dollars in future production spending occurs.
Supporters believe making the U.S. more competitive could help retain domestic productions while potentially convincing internationally planned projects to reconsider American locations.
Critics of film incentives, however, have historically questioned whether tax credits generate enough economic activity and tax revenue to justify their public cost. The effectiveness of any federal program would therefore depend heavily on how Congress designs it, what safeguards it includes and how its economic impact is measured.
For entertainment professionals, the proposal is worth following closely — but it remains a proposal, not a guarantee of additional jobs.
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FAQs
What Film Tax Incentive Does Donald Trump Support?
Donald Trump is calling for Congress to establish a federal production incentive for movies and television shows made in the United States. The final structure and value of the proposed incentive have not yet been determined.
Has Congress Passed a Federal Film and TV Tax Credit?
No. As of September 1, 2026, Trump has endorsed creating a federal production incentive, but Congress has not passed the proposed program. Lawmakers still need to develop and approve legislation establishing its details.
Could a Federal Film Tax Credit Create More Casting Opportunities?
Potentially. If an incentive successfully encourages more movies and television productions to film in the United States, it could increase demand for actors, background performers and production crews. However, the impact will depend on the final legislation and how studios respond to it.
