The National Endowment For Humanities has canceled previously approved federal grants to all recipients.
In the previous weeks, rumors were circulating the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) had the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) under its radar. Some reports claimed that cuts upwards of 70-80 percent were suggested, while others claimed that all grants made under the Biden administration were recommended to be revoked.
Late last week, previous recipients of the grants started sharing on social media about the intimation they received from the NEH, which informed them that their grants would be terminated, effective immediately. The mail read: “Your grant no longer effectuates the agency’s needs and priorities and conditions of the Grant Agreement and is subject to termination. [..] Your grant’s immediate termination is necessary to safeguard the interests of the federal government, including its fiscal priorities. [..] [The NEH would be] repurposing its funding allocations in a new direction in furtherance of the president’s agenda.”
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The NEH offered 47 grant programs that covered various institutions relevant to the field of humanities. These ranged from schools and libraries to museums and historic sites. Out of last year’s budget of $210 million for the NEH, $65 million was supposed to go out in grants alone. The grants were distributed to all 56 US states and jurisdictions, proportional to their populations. Many state councils relied heavily on these funds to maintain museums and historic sites under their purview. The news was met with heavy backlash from the educational sector, the art world, and the Democratic party members.
