An event in Fargo, North Dakota, in 2024, saw speaker Kate Bowler, an author and podcaster, delivering a thought-provoking presentation at an event managed by Humanities North Dakota. The organization recently expressed relief over its financial stability. This relief emanated from a federal judge’s tentative assertion that the executive wing of government erred in rescinding two years of nationwide humanities scholarships. Originating in 1965, the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), established by Congress, provides backing for cultural, arts, and civic education throughout the U.S. The NEH is vital for entities like Humanities North Dakota, along with 55 other humanities councils, for their funding needs.
However, a setback for these humanities councils occurred in early April when the federal government retracted copious funds from the grants that Congress had predestined for them for the 2024 and 2025 fiscal years, as per court documentation. The NEH pronounced this decision as ‘refocusing its funding allocations in accordance to the President’s agenda.’ In April, Humanities North Dakota declared that it was losing around $600,000 in grant money received for the fiscal year 2024 due to these cuts.
The burden of this financial loss was somewhat eased when the organization received $300,000 via private contributions. Despite this rescue, the group had to admit that it would still need to scale back its programs as a consequence of the grant termination. This crisis occurred amid an uncertain backdrop, with many questioning the legality of the executive branch’s decision to withdraw funding from the humanities councils.
In a game-changing turn of events, Michael Simon, a U.S. District Judge in Oregon, issued an order indicating that the decision to withdraw funding for humanities councils goes against the law and is likely to be reversed. Though Judge Simon’s order did not reinstate the withdrawn money, it temporarily protected the funds from being utilized elsewhere. This ruling was pointed out by the Federation of State Humanities Councils.
Following this judgment, Brenna Gerhardt, the executive director of Humanities North Dakota, stated the organization’s intentions of restarting halted projects, reengaging with community collaborators, and making shrewd financial decisions that anticipate both recent uncertainties and ongoing commitments. This situation unfolded as part of numerous program suspensions initiated by executive agencies under the Department of Government Efficiency.
In concert with these funding cutbacks, the NEH scaled down staff numbers around the spring period, letting go of approximately 65% of its workforce, as outlined in Judge Simon’s ruling. This directive emerged from a lawsuit lodged against the Department of Government Efficiency and the NEH by the Federation of State Humanities Councils and one of its constituents, Oregon Humanities.
The plaintiffs proposed that the discontinuation of funding by the federal government was done hastily without substantial deliberation and totally neglected the Congress-stipulated function of councils: to ensure widespread reach of education throughout the United States. They alleged that the decision was taken without considering the impact it might have on programs and people who have traditionally been underrepresented.
The NEH defended the cancellation of grants by explaining that the subjects promoted by the programs, such as diversity, equity and inclusion, disability accommodation, environmental justice, among others, were inconsistent with the executive order issued by President Donald Trump earlier that year. However, this explanation contradicts Congress’ intention of how the NEH should employ the grant money.
Precisely, federal statutes stipulate that these grants should support programs that ‘reflect the diversity and richness of our American cultural heritage’ and ‘give particular regard to scholars, and educational and cultural institutions, that have traditionally been underrepresented.’ This broad spectrum of focus which includes various cultural, educational and societal sectors, was greatly affected by the funding cuts, as outlined by Judge Simon in his report.
Judge Simon also took note of the disruption of funding for numerous critical projects across the country. These included an Indigenous language preservation initiative in Alaska, a department for end-of-life care in an Ohio children’s hospital, and multiple rural libraries in Oregon. He lamented that, ‘From the largest cities to the most rural communities throughout our nation, humanities funding came to a screeching halt.’
Reacting to Judge Simon’s decision, Phoebe Stein, the president of the Federation of State Humanities Councils, applauded the ruling but highlighted that it, however, still leaves humanities councils under-resourced for the time being. This is due to the considerable damage that has been caused by these cuts in their funding, leading to lay-offs and program cancellations.
The NEH, in court submissions, claims that the federal legislations grant them the power to sever funding for grants if they surmise that a particular grant doesn’t further the agency’s priorities. This stance is part of an ongoing legal tussle where the fate of humanities councils and their future funding hangs in the balance.
Overall, this situation demonstrates the significance of the NEH and the role of humanities in the broader American society. The discontinuation of funding has created debates around the legality of the actions taken and their impact on communities nationwide. As the conflict unfolds, the future of humanities education and many associated programs remains uncertain.
The post Federal Judge’s Order Revives Hope for Humanities Councils’ Funding appeared first on Real News Now.
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