NEH Grant Cuts Disrupt Cultural Programs Nationwide

A sudden federal policy shift redirects humanities funding to 'patriotic programming,' halting key educational and cultural initiatives and spurring legal and grassroots responses.

The Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has canceled over 1,200 grants, reallocating $175 million toward a new federal 'patriotic programming' agenda.
The abrupt cuts have jeopardized state humanities councils, with some losing up to 80% of their budgets, leading to layoffs and halted programs.
Canceled grants have disrupted educational workshops, traveling exhibitions, and local history initiatives, including programs supporting underserved communities and veterans.
The funding shift marks a departure from the NEH's Great Society-era mission of promoting inclusive cultural heritage, which had bipartisan support since 1965.
Community leaders and academics are urging political action and donations to sustain affected programs as legal challenges to the cuts begin to emerge.