In the year 2024, an audience in Fargo gathered to hear author and podcaster Kate Bowler give a talk, an event brought to life by Humanities North Dakota. Recently, there is newfound optimism regarding the financial stability of Humanities North Dakota, following a federal judge’s suggestion that the executive branch was erroneously in discontinuing nationwide humanities grants for two years.
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), established in 1965 by Congress, fosters the nation’s interest in education related to civics, arts, and culture. Humanities North Dakota is one of the 56 humanities councils nationwide that depend on the financial assistance from the NEH.
These councils, however, faced a sizeable setback when the federal government, in early April, chose to rescind hundreds of millions in congressionally approved grant funding for fiscal years 2024 and 2025, based on court documents.
The NEH justified this decision by explaining it was adjusting its monetary allocations, prioritising a fresh direction that aligns more closely with the President’s strategy. Subsequently, Humanities North Dakota announced in April that approximately $600,000 in grants allocated for the fiscal year 2024 was at risk due to the funding cuts.
Despite the financial hurdle, Humanities North Dakota was able to maintain operations after securing $300,000 from private benefactors. Even with this contribution, the institution revealed it would be necessary to cut back on some of its various programs due to the grant withdrawal.
While the executive branch’s choice to defund the humanities programs has been deemed unlawful by Oregon U.S. District Judge Michael Simon, thereby likely being reversed down the road, his order does not immediately reinstate the previous grant’s sums. Nonetheless, Judge Simon’s directive provisionally blocks the federal government from reallocating these funds.
Once the verdict passed, Brenna Gerhardt, the Executive Director of Humanities North Dakota, announced their plans to resume halted initiatives, reestablish connections with community collaborators, and make prudent financial decisions respecting both the past uncertainty and future obligations.
The termination of these grants was one amongst several budget reductions undertaken by executive branch agencies, advocated by the Department of Government Efficiency. The funding cuts followed the National Endowment for the Humanities laying off nearly 65% of its workforce, as per Judge Simon’s document.
Judge Simon’s verdict was the outcome of a lawsuit filed by the Federation of State Humanities Councils and its member, Oregon Humanities, against the Department of Government Efficiency and the National Endowment for the Humanities.
The lawsuit claimed the federal government unjustly cancelled funding without meaningful analysis, and with an utter disregard for the Congressionally established role of councils: to ensure nationwide reach of humanities programs.
NEH has revealed that the grants were withdrawn as they were associated with promoting topics such as diversity, equity and inclusion, disability rights, and climate justice. It should be noted that President Trump pledged to abolish these subjects in an executive order earlier.
Judge Simon retorted this decision contradicts the Congressional intention on how the NEH should utilize the grant money. Federal law mandates the agency to support programs that amplify the diversity and richness of our American cultural heritage, with a particular focus on those scholars and institutions traditionally left on the sidelines.
Simon noted the funding cutbacks have distributed resources unevenly, affecting diverse initiatives such as an Indigenous language retention program in Alaska, an Ohio children’s hospital’s end-of-life care department, and rural libraries in Oregon.
The halted humanities funding has undeniably impacted all corners of the nation, from bustling urban centers to tranquil rural communities, Judge Simon stated.
While Phoebe Stein, the President of the Federation of State Humanities Councils, approved of Judge Simon’s decision, she pointed out that the ruling still leaves humanities councils temporarily underfunded. Consequently, many councils have already had to make job cuts and cancel beneficial programs. NEH maintains that federal regulations allow for grant termination if they decide it doesn’t further the agency’s objectives.
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