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NHA Statement on NEH Lawsuit

Posted OnMay 1, 2025 byAlex Klein

On Thursday, May 1, 2025, the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS), the American Historical Association (AHA), and the Modern Language Association (MLA) filed a lawsuit in federal district court seeking to reverse recent actions that threaten to devastate the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).

Established in 1965 by Congress, the NEH is a primary funder of the humanities in the United States and is the only entity, federal or private, that is tasked with making the humanities accessible to all Americans. The NEH supports humanities research, education, public programs, and the preservation of our cultural heritage. NEH grants support libraries, museums, historic sites, educational institutions, and other cultural organizations. The NEH’s partnership with the state and jurisdictional humanities councils ensures that communities throughout the United States benefit from these congressionally designated funds. Since its founding, the NEH has received bipartisan support from Congress.

Since April 2, more than 1,000 NEH grants have been terminated, 65 percent of the agency’s staff have been fired, and grant lines have been suspended. We welcome this suit, which is brought by three members of NHA’s executive committee and which is aimed at reversing the administration’s actions, including the elimination of grant programs, staff, and entire divisions and programs.

A press release related to the lawsuit can be read here. You can read the full complaint here.

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The National Humanities Alliance (NHA) is a nationwide coalition of organizations advocating for the humanities on campuses, in communities, and on Capitol Hill. Founded in 1981, NHA is supported by over 250 member organizations, including: colleges, universities, libraries, museums, cultural organizations, state humanities councils, and scholarly, professional, and higher education associations. It is the only organization that brings together the U.S. humanities community as a whole.

Posted on: May 1, 2025

Categories:Advocacy, Policy Updates
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    The NHA is a 501(c)(4) non-profit association and is strictly nonpartisan. The NHA Foundation is the 501(c)(3) supporting foundation of the National Humanities Alliance. It works to research and communicate the value of the humanities to a range of audiences including elected officials and the general public.