One small step for the NEA, one huge setback for freedom of expression.

John E. Frohnmayer, the National Endowment for the Arts chairman, vetoed federal funding Monday for four performance artists because their work didn’t better people’s understanding and appreciation of art.

The NEA officially welcomed the policy to restrict funds to artists based on their art this summer.

Frohnmayer slammed the door on any explanations for denying the money, citing another policy that states he doesn’t have to talk about rejected grants.

But wait, there is some behind-the-scenes pushing at work. The National Council on the Arts, an advisory committee to the NEA, claimed the four artists work was “not appropriate for federal support.”

The four artists are well-known for their performances dealing with politics, racism, sexual oppression and involve strong sexual content.

Frohnmayer’s rejection leaves an open door for limitless grant denials based on what is deemed “federally” acceptable. Essentially a handful of people, namely the government, controls what art society gets to admire.

Freedom of expression is slowly being chipped away by men and women in four-piece suits who refuse to accept sexism, racism and homosexuality as a part of reality.

The performance artists filed lawsuits against the NEA, but those will probably be lost in court for months. Society needs to stop the axe from falling on freedom of expression now.