Overview

• U.S. District Judge Michael H. Simon issued a temporary injunction halting the administration’s cancellation of 79 NEH general operating grants and freezing over $200 million in withheld funds.
• Simon found the April terminations likely violated the NEH statute requiring appropriated funds be available to approved recipients, with withholding them breaching the Constitution’s separation of powers.
• The ruling denied the government’s request to stay the injunction, with Simon warning that any delay would cause irreparable harm to state and local humanities councils.
• Councils nationwide experienced program cancellations and staff layoffs after the Department of Government Efficiency abruptly terminated grants without notice in April.
• The Federation of State Humanities Councils and the Oregon Council for the Humanities, represented by attorney Anna Sortun, filed suit in May and await further court proceedings.