POST: Support the NEH and IMLS

The National Humanities Alliance (NHA) has released “NHA Statement on Threats to the NEH,” detailing the importance of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) staff and grant programs to cultural organizations amid recent cuts. The statement reads in part:

Established in 1965, the National Endowment for the Humanities is the only entity, federal or private, tasked with making the humanities accessible to all Americans. The NEH connects Americans in every state with our nation’s rich history and culture.

The NEH provides crucial support for cultural organizations. Through grants to libraries, museums, historic sites, educational institutions, and other cultural organizations—and its partnership with the state and jurisdictional humanities councils—the NEH:

• Enriches K-12 education
• Provides lifelong learning opportunities for a range of audiences
• Fosters community conversations
• Ensures rural access to high-quality humanities programs
• Supports Veterans
• Promotes civic education
• Supports cutting-edge research
• Celebrates local histories
• Preserves our cultural heritage
• Fosters local tourism economies

NEH funding and NEH staff are essential to this work. For 60 years, NEH staff members have helped grantees navigate government systems and develop strong proposals that bring high-quality humanities programs to American communities. NEH staff ensure that small and large organizations alike have access to federal funds. Moreover, they are tireless in their efforts to ensure that U.S. tax dollars are spent well.

The statement was signed by a multitude of professional and academic organizations around the USA. A few days after this statement was released, NHA published a petition, “URGENT: Save the NEH.” This petition, aimed at members of Congress, the petition landing page text states:

DOGE is targeting a small federal agency that—with an annual appropriation that amounts to a rounding error in the U.S. budget—has a positive impact on every congressional district.

Let your Members of Congress know that you condemn these actions and support the National Endowment for the Humanities!

Terminated NEH grant awards are being tracked by the Association for Computers and the Humanities (ACH). The tracker includes the title of each grant, the state and congressional district the hosting institution is based in, the discipline, and the grant program and division or office that awarded the grant. Also of note is that, Knowledge Commons, which was to be the Designated Public-Access Repository of the NEH, has also been affected.

Another federal agency that has supported digital humanities and libraries work is the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The American Library Association (ALA) released a statement, “ALA responds to the termination of IMLS grants in several states,” in response to news that IMLS grants were being terminated. The statement included words from ALA President Cindy Hohl:

Withdrawing library grants is a callous move at any time, but downright cruel at a time when it’s getting harder for many Americans to make ends meet – most of all, in small and rural communities.

The White House may have no qualms about slashing opportunity for jobseekers, students, veterans and families, but Congress has the power to restore support for services their constituents rely on. It’s time for elected leaders to show up for our libraries.

ALA calls on every person with a library story to remind their Congressmembers and elected officials at every level why America’s libraries deserve more, not less funding.

Similarly, the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) released a statement on the cuts at IMLS, “AAM Statement on the Placing of IMLS Staff on Administrative Leave.” This statement details that:

Placing the entire staff on administrative leave raises questions as to whether the agency will be able to fulfill its legal obligations to disburse congressionally appropriated funding, leaving museums, libraries, and communities across the country at risk of losing vital resources.

This move continues to undermine the will of the American people—96% of whom want to see federal funding for museums maintained or increased—and prevents American taxpayer dollars from reaching America’s communities.

IMLS makes up only 0.0046% of the federal budget and efficiently provides critical resources to libraries and museums in all 50 states and territories in communities rural to urban. The museum sector, in turn, generates $50 billion in economic impact.

AAM has also called on Americans to “continue to get the word out about the impacts of the dismantling of IMLS” by contacting members of Congress, state representatives, and sharing stories with local media.