Trump Administration Axes National Endowment for the Humanities Grants, Workforce: Deep Cuts Threaten Cultural Landscape

Washington D.C. – The Trump administration has enacted drastic cuts to the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), terminating approximately 1,200 congressionally approved grants and placing 80 percent of the agency’s workforce on administrative leave. The sudden move, detailed in notifications sent late on April 2, 2025, follows similar actions targeting the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and poses a potentially ruinous threat to cultural institutions and initiatives nationwide, including vital historic preservation and architectural conservation efforts.

Unprecedented Funding Termination

Acting NEH Chair Michael McDonald notified all 56 of the NEH’s state and jurisdictional councils, along with direct grant recipients, that all awarded grants were terminated effective immediately. The communication, sent out late on the evening of April 2, 2025, cited the need for the NEH to “repurpose its funding allocations in a new direction in furtherance of President Trump’s agenda” as the rationale for the abrupt action.

According to reporting by the Washington Post, this sweeping termination affects approximately 1,200 grants that had been approved by Congress, impacting a wide array of cultural and history programs across the United States and its territories. The grants represent a significant portion of the agency’s planned disbursements for the fiscal year.

Workforce Decimated

Just two days later, on April 4, 2025, the impact extended to the agency’s personnel. Around 145 NEH staffers – roughly 80 percent of the agency’s workforce – were placed on administrative leave by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). This action mirrored a similar move in late March, when all 75 IMLS employees were also put on leave, effectively crippling both cultural agencies housed under the same federal umbrella.

‘Evisceration’ Draws Sharp Condemnation

The scale and suddenness of the cuts have drawn immediate and harsh criticism from professional organizations. The American Historical Association referred to the actions as an “evisceration,” underscoring the severe damage inflicted upon the humanities sector.

Experts warn that the termination of these grants and the removal of agency staff pose a dire threat to numerous institutions and initiatives nationwide. Cultural programs, historical societies, libraries, and educational projects that rely on NEH funding face unprecedented uncertainty, with many potentially forced to scale back or cease operations. Of particular concern are the impacts on historic preservation and architectural conservation efforts, fields that frequently depend on NEH support for critical research, documentation, and physical preservation projects.

Historical Context and Financial Scope

Established by Congress in 1965 as part of the National Foundation on the Arts and Humanities, the NEH has played a pivotal role in supporting scholarship, education, and public programs in the humanities for nearly six decades. Over its history, the agency has awarded over $65 billion in grants, fostering a broad spectrum of projects from documentary films and museum exhibitions to educational initiatives and scholarly research.

In 2024, the NEH received $207 million in congressional funding. Roughly half of this allocation was designated for the state and jurisdictional grants that have now been terminated. This state partnership program has historically been a cornerstone of NEH activity, supporting locally driven humanities projects and infrastructure through matching funds and administrative support to the network of state humanities councils.

Timing and Broader Context

The announcement of the NEH grant terminations and staff reductions occurred shortly after President Trump’s declaration of new “Liberation Day” tariffs. Reports indicate that the timing of the tariff announcement may have overshadowed the news regarding the cultural agencies in the initial media cycle.

The cuts to the NEH, following closely on the heels of the actions against the IMLS, signal a broader trend of federal disinvestment in cultural and educational institutions under the current administration. The stated rationale of “repurposing” funds for President Trump’s agenda raises questions about the future direction and potential restructuring of federal support for the humanities and cultural heritage.

As institutions and grant recipients grapple with the immediate fallout from the terminations, the long-term impact on America’s cultural and intellectual infrastructure remains a significant concern for historians, educators, museum professionals, and preservationists alike.