“Supporting the NEH is not merely an investment in cultural preservation; it is also a crucial investment in community health, education, social development, and economic vitality.”
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Co-Chair of the Senate Humanities Caucus, and U.S. Representative Dina Titus (D-Nev.-01), Co-Chair of the House Humanities Caucus, led a letter demanding the Trump administration undo its termination of congressionally-appropriated funding for grants administered by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).
“Overnight, on April 2, 2025, the NEH terminated all current five-year General Operating Support grants awarded to state and jurisdictional humanities councils. This funding provides the majority of operating support for state humanities council partners of NEH. The administration is also targeting NEH with the aim of terminating more than 1,400 other grant awards, substantially reducing its staff, and eliminating many of the agency’s previously announced grant programs. Such reckless actions will have a devastating impact on museums, historic sites, universities, educators, libraries, public television and radio stations, research institutions, and local humanities programming throughout our nation.” the lawmakers began.
“For over 60 years, NEH staff have helped grantees, from individuals to museums and nonprofits, provide high-quality humanities programs to communities across the country, including 56 state and jurisdictional humanities councils. NEH funds, allocated to state humanities councils, are for local use and allow councils to leverage $2 in private investment for every federal dollar spent. The loss of NEH funding to humanities councils will decimate the ability of these nonprofits to serve localities in their states, eliminating programs that are essential to each state’s cultural infrastructure. This will lead to significant job loss in communities that are the most vulnerable to the lack of federal support,” the lawmakers wrote.
“Libraries, museums, historic sites, and community centers in rural communities and small towns face particularly dire financial futures without grant funding from state humanities councils and the NEH. Additionally, small and midsize organizations benefit from the guidance and expertise of the agency. These organizations are the backbone of our communities’ unique cultures, reinforcing civic participation, community engagement, historic preservation, tourism infrastructure, and economic development. In short, they articulate a deep sense of place essential for a high quality of life,” the lawmakers continued.
The NEH funding provides the majority of operating support for state humanities councils. The Trump administration is also threatening to terminate more than 1,400 other grant awards at the NEH, substantially reducing its staff, and eliminating many of the agency’s previously announced grant programs.
The letter is signed by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Angus King (I-Me.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawai’i), Kristen Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-Nev.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and 108 members of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Full text of the letter is available here and below:
Dear President Trump & Acting Chair McDonald,
We write to express our deep concern about the future of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), the only entity – federal or private – tasked with making the humanities accessible to all Americans. Overnight, on April 2, 2025, the NEH terminated all current five-year General Operating Support grants awarded to state and jurisdictional humanities councils. This funding provides the majority of operating support for state humanities council partners of NEH. The administration is also targeting NEH with the aim of terminating more than 1,400 other grant awards, substantially reducing its staff, and eliminating many of the agency’s previously announced grant programs. Such reckless actions will have a devastating impact on museums, historic sites, universities, educators, libraries, public television and radio stations, research institutions, and local humanities programming throughout our nation.
NEH was established by Congress in 1965 and reaffirmed by Republican and Democratic Administrations and lawmakers over the last 60 years. Congress has repeatedly supported the NEH, its state humanities councils, and their effective service and distribution of federal dollars across the country. Over the course of its history, NEH has awarded over $6 billion to support research, education, preservation, and public programming in the humanities. For example, NEH funding has been instrumental in advancing groundbreaking research at universities, enriching our shared cultural experiences—from the King Tut exhibition to Ken Burns’s award-winning documentaries—and uncovering our nation’s history, including excavations at Jamestown, Virginia, and the preservation and publication of Mark Twain’s writings.
A shift in the federal government’s “fiscal priorities,” as NEH’s message to grantees states, does not justify withdrawing these funds. Congress has already appropriated them, and federal law requires that grantees receive support for the full duration of their grants, absent proof of misuse. We urge the NEH to abide by federal law and honor their agreements with grantees and humanities councils.
For over 60 years, NEH staff have helped grantees, from individuals to museums and nonprofits, provide high-quality humanities programs to communities across the country, including 56 state and jurisdictional humanities councils. NEH funds, allocated to state humanities councils, are for local use and allow councils to leverage $2 in private investment for every federal dollar spent. The loss of NEH funding to humanities councils will decimate the ability of these nonprofits to serve localities in their states, eliminating programs that are essential to each state’s cultural infrastructure. This will lead to significant job loss in communities that are the most vulnerable to the lack of federal support.
Libraries, museums, historic sites, and community centers in rural communities and small towns face particularly dire financial futures without grant funding from state humanities councils and the NEH. Additionally, small and midsize organizations benefit from the guidance and expertise of the agency. These organizations are the backbone of our communities’ unique cultures, reinforcing civic participation, community engagement, historic preservation, tourism infrastructure, and economic development. In short, they articulate a deep sense of place essential for a high quality of life.
The NEH and the state humanities councils are also an integral part of our nation’s plans to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026. They will give families and individuals an opportunity to participate in our national celebration in their own communities and highlight local stories and contributions. Without NEH’s leadership and investment, the scope and impact of this national milestone will be dramatically diminished, leaving many regions without the resources needed to meaningfully take part.
NEH’s budget for the Fiscal Year of 2025 is $207 million, a tiny fraction of the federal budget. These cuts will not provide significant savings for the federal government nor the American taxpayer, but they will impact millions who benefit from the far-reaching humanities programs, including our veterans, students, educators, and seniors. We urge the Administration to reconsider this decision. Supporting the NEH is not merely an investment in cultural preservation; it is also a crucial investment in community health, education, social development, and economic vitality.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter. We look forward to working with you to ensure sustained federal support for the NEH.
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