Hollywood unions and actor Sean Astin have supported a proposal by former President Donald Trump for a federal production incentive aimed at bringing film and television jobs back to the United States. SAG-AFTRA, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), and Teamsters Local 399 have encouraged Congress to take action, citing the loss of U.S. productions and thousands of jobs to countries offering more attractive financial incentives. These unions argue that the U.S. film industry has struggled to compete with nations that provide generous tax breaks and other benefits to attract film and television production. SAG-AFTRA president Sean Astin, known for his roles in "The Lord of the Rings" and "Stranger Things," praised Trump’s “vocal and determined leadership” in a joint statement with national executive director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland. Trump has urged Congress to approve a federal production incentive, claiming that the movement of film and television projects overseas has harmed California and other regions of the U.S. He posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, that Congress should immediately pass a Federal Production Incentive to create Entertainment Jobs in America. While Trump has not yet detailed the size or structure of the proposed incentive, he mentioned that bipartisan discussions with congressional leaders are underway. Democratic Senator Adam Schiff of California has also called for Congress to consider a federal film tax incentive, believing it could help restore jobs lost to foreign competition. IATSE said Trump’s endorsement adds momentum to a long-standing proposal the union has supported, as foreign countries increasingly use generous incentives to attract American productions. The union has been working with actor Jon Voight, whom Trump appointed as a special ambassador to Hollywood, along with other industry figures and lawmakers on potential legislation. Teamsters Local 399, which represents about 6,500 motion picture workers in California and New Mexico, also welcomed Trump’s announcement and is collaborating with an industry coalition on a federal incentive. This push comes as California seeks to reverse a prolonged decline in film production. The state recently increased annual funding for its Film and Television Tax Credit Program from $330 million to $750 million starting in the 2025-26 fiscal year. California has faced growing competition from other states and countries offering financial incentives and lower production costs, compounded by challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2023 Hollywood strikes, and the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires. Trump’s support for an incentive marks a shift from his earlier 2025 proposal to impose a 100% tariff on foreign films, which raised questions about its feasibility. Los Angeles City Councilmember Adrin Nazarian, who chairs the council’s Ad Hoc Committee on Film, Entertainment and Creative Industry, emphasized that the need for a federal incentive is not a partisan issue, but one about supporting the thousands of behind-the-scenes workers in the film industry. The Motion Picture Association also endorsed Trump’s proposal, with Chairman and CEO Charles Rivkin stating that a federal incentive could bring production and jobs to communities across all 50 states.