Historians Condemn Administration Actions Against National Endowment for the Humanities

Leading historians and cultural organizations are voicing strong condemnation over recent actions targeting the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), describing them as a significant threat to American public culture and democratic foundations.

The American Historical Association (AHA), a prominent professional organization for historians, issued a pointed statement on April 4, 2025, responding to measures reportedly enacted by the current administration’s “Department of Government Efficiency.” These actions included the abrupt termination of grants for hundreds of NEH recipients and the placement of a large percentage of NEH staff on administrative leave.

Abrupt Grant Terminations Trigger Outcry

According to reports detailed in the AHA’s statement, on April 3, 2025, hundreds of individuals and institutions who had received NEH grants were notified that their funding had been terminated. The notification method itself raised concerns, with recipients receiving the news via a non-governmental email address rather than official communication channels.

These grant terminations impact a wide array of projects crucial to historical research, educational programs, preservation efforts, and public humanities initiatives across the United States. The sudden cessation of funding creates immediate uncertainty for scholars, educators, museums, libraries, archives, and other cultural institutions reliant on NEH support to carry out their work.

Widespread Staffing Changes at NEH

Adding to the disruption, approximately 75% of the NEH’s staff have reportedly been placed on administrative leave. This drastic reduction in operational capacity raises questions about the agency’s ability to function, manage existing projects, or process future applications, should they be permitted. The NEH, an independent federal agency established in 1965, is tasked with supporting research, education, preservation, and public programs in the humanities.

Critics argue that sidelining such a large portion of the staff effectively cripples the agency’s ability to fulfill its statutory mission, further exacerbating the impact of the grant cancellations.

AHA Calls Actions “Unpatriotic, Anti-American, and Unjustified”

The American Historical Association did not mince words in its response. Their statement, which had garnered the support of 26 other organizations by April 4, 2025, characterized the administration’s actions as a “frontal attack on the nation’s public culture.”

The AHA asserted that the moves were “unpatriotic, anti-American, and unjustified,” arguing that the NEH plays a vital role in supporting democracy. The organization highlighted the agency’s contributions through its funding of research that deepens understanding of the nation’s history and principles, educational programs that build informed citizens, preservation efforts that protect cultural heritage, and public programming that engages communities in civic discourse.

The statement emphasized that undermining the NEH is not merely an administrative efficiency measure but a blow against the very fabric of shared knowledge and critical thinking essential for a healthy democratic society.

National Humanities Alliance Mobilizes Response

In parallel with the AHA’s statement, the National Humanities Alliance (NHA), a coalition dedicated to advancing the humanities in public life, has also taken action. The NHA is actively running an action alert, urging constituents to contact their congressional representatives.

The alert serves as a call to action for citizens to express their concerns about the administration’s moves and advocate for the continued support and stability of the NEH. Furthermore, the NHA is undertaking efforts to collect data on grants that have been canceled since March 31, 2025.

This data collection aims to quantify the full scope of the impact on the humanities sector, providing concrete evidence to inform advocacy efforts and public awareness campaigns. The NHA’s work underscores a broader mobilization across the humanities community to push back against the perceived dismantling of vital cultural infrastructure.

Broader Implications for Public Culture

The actions against the NEH are seen by critics not just as budgetary decisions but as reflecting a fundamental misunderstanding or devaluation of the humanities’ role in society. The NEH funds projects ranging from documentary films and museum exhibitions to historical research and digital archives, all of which contribute to public understanding, critical thinking, and civic engagement.

The AHA and other signatory organizations argue that diminishing the NEH’s capacity undermines the nation’s ability to understand its past, engage with complex contemporary issues, and preserve its cultural heritage for future generations. They posit that investment in the humanities is an investment in the intellectual and cultural capital of the nation, intrinsically linked to its democratic health.

The situation remains fluid, with the AHA statement and NHA’s action alert representing initial but forceful responses from key stakeholders in the humanities field. The coming days and weeks are expected to see further reactions and potentially organized efforts to challenge the administration’s decisions regarding the National Endowment for the Humanities.