Back in 2024, Kate Bowler, an author and podcaster, gave a talk hosted by Humanities North Dakota in Fargo. This event came at a time when the group had concerns about their financial future, only to find steadiness when a federal judge hinted that the executive branch’s decision to withdraw two consecutive years of countrywide humanities grants seemed unjust.
Ever since its formation in 1965 by the Congress, the National Endowment for the Humanities has been a cornerstone supporting arts, cultural education, and civic activities nationwide. Fifty-six humanities councils, covering every corner of the United States, depend upon the agency for their sustenance, with Humanities North Dakota being one of these pivotal entities.
However, a massive setback arrived when the federal government decided to retract considerable grant funding in April that had been set aside for these councils for fiscal years 2024 and 2025. The action, as court records reveal, caused a profound ripple across Humanities North Dakota and its brethren.
At that time, the National Endowment for the Humanities explained their decision as a significant course change, reallocating its funding towards directions in line with the presidential agenda. As a grim outcome of this move, Humanities North Dakota projected a loss of $600,000 in grant revenue for the fiscal year 2024 alone.
Caught in these dire circumstances, the North Dakota group managed to secure $300,000 through private contributions, a lifeline that allowed them to avoid closing their operations. Yet, despite the generous support, the organization realized it would need to streamline its activities given the severe lack of grant support.
In a glimmer of hope, Oregon U.S. District Judge Michael Simon made an order on a Wednesday, stating that the executive branch’s conduct to defund the humanities councils could be deemed illegal and possibly reversed. Judge Simon’s directive does not directly restore the grant funds but does effectively halt the federal government from allocating these resources elsewhere according to the Federation of State Humanities Councils.
This judgement served as a crucial turning point for Humanities North Dakota, enabling them to gradually revive paused operations, rebuild ties with community collaborators, and make prudent financial judgements. Brenna Gerhardt, the executive director of Humanities North Dakota, appreciated the clarity brought upon by this recent judicial milestone.
It’s essential to note that the withdrawal of grant funds was part of the broader actions initiated by the executive branch at the behest of the Department of Government Efficiency. Accompanying the financial cuts, a disheartening 65% downsizing event occurred in the National Endowment for the Humanities during spring, as mentioned in Judge Simon’s order.
This whole scenario stemmed from a lawsuit initiated by the Federation of State Humanities Councils and one of its members, Oregon Humanities. They challenged the Department of Government Efficiency and the National Endowment for the Humanities, with their complaint arguing that the abrupt withdrawal lacked a thorough consideration, disregarding the crucial role of councils mandated by Congress to ensure that every region in the United States has access to humanities programs.
It is reported that the National Endowment for the Humanities had withdrawn grants on the premise that they were fostering themes like inclusion, diversity, environmental justice, and accommodation for disabled persons. This decision aligned with an executive order championed earlier that year by President Donald Trump to eradicate such issues.
However, Judge Simon brought up that these grant withdrawals counter the guidelines set by Congress for the National Endowment for the Humanities. Federal law instructs this agency to back initiatives reflecting the diversity of our cultural heritage and to have due regard for scholars and institutions generally underrepresented.
The financial cuts have had distressing ramifications, disrupting funding for various endeavors like an Alaskan native language preservation program, an end-of-life care department for a children’s hospital in Ohio, and rural library setups in Oregon, to mention a few. All these were notably observed by Judge Simon in his order.
The abrupt halt of funding to the humanities has had far-reaching impacts, affecting not only urban centers but even the most remote areas of the country, as highlighted by Judge Simon. The financial landscape for institutions advocating for the humanities has been drastically reshaped.
Phoebe Stein, the president of the Federation of State Humanities Councils, appreciated Judge Simon’s order but lamented that it still did not resolve the pressing issue of underfunding the councils. This reality has forced many to lay off their staff and abandon important programs abruptly.
In legal documents, the National Endowment for the Humanities attempted a defense, noting that federal laws permit them to terminate grants at will, should they decide that a grant does not align with their agency priorities. This major controversy has led to a rethink about the precedence and balance of power between federal administration and the mandates of Congress.
The post Budget Cuts Threaten Humanities North Dakota’s Future appeared first on Real News Now.
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