Federal Judge Urges Reversal of Humanities Grant Discontinuation

A gathering hosted by author and podcaster, Kate Bowler, facilitated by Humanities North Dakota in Fargo in 2024 housed listeners from many walks of life. Humanities North Dakota is expressing hope for a brighter financial future following indications from a federal judge stating the executive arm of the government erred in discontinuing two years of humanities grants across the US.

The upbringing of the National Endowment for the Humanities is credited to the US Congress in 1965, focusing on the promotion of arts, civics, and cultural education throughout the nation. The agency serves as a financial backbone for 56 humanities councils, which includes Humanities North Dakota.

In an unanticipated move, these humanities councils received a substantial setback in early April when the federal government retreated from its commitment of hundreds of millions of dollars previously promised by Congress for the 2024 and 2025 fiscal years, per court documents. The National Endowment for the Humanities explained this action as a ‘repurposing its funding allocations in a new direction in furtherance of the President’s agenda.’

Humanities North Dakota had previously voiced concern over potential loss of $600,000 from its 2024 financial year amounting from these funding revisions. While private donors later covered half of the shortfall, the organization pointed out the likelihood of scaling back its programming due to the grant revoke.

In the face of these upheavals, US District Judge Michael Simon passed an order, establishing that this decision of the executive body to withdraw funding for humanities councils is illegitimate and stands a high chance of future reversal. Although this order does not reinstate any of the revoked funding, it does temporarily halt the federal government from reallocating these funds, as reported by the Federation of State Humanities Councils.

Brenna Gerhardt, executive director of Humanities North Dakota, in response to the court’s order, expressed optimism for their organization’s future. She said they are now prepared to resume deferred activities, renew communications with community alliances and make careful fiscal choices amind the proven instability and their enduring pledges.

The discontinuations of these grants were part of numerous modifications done by executive agencies on behalf of the Department of Government Efficiency. Alongside the funding cutbacks, approximately 65% of the National Endowment for the Humanities staff were also dismissed, as per Judge Simon’s order.

The Department of Government Efficiency and the National Endowment for the Humanities faced litigation spearheaded by the Federation of State Humanities Councils and one of its constituents, Oregon Humanities. With this lawsuit, the litigants highlight that the federal government terminated the funding grants without sufficient analysis and complete disregard for the councils’ overarching function designated by Congress: to permeate humanities programs across the entire US.

In the arguments presented, the National Endowment for the Humanities conveyed that the decision to retract the grants was based upon them being recognized as advancing subjects such as diversity, inclusivity, disability accommodation, and environmental justice. They attest that these are the topics which President Donald Trump pledged to remove in one of his executive orders introduced earlier this year.

However, Judge Simon countered this argument by opining that this contradicts Congress’s intended use of the grant money from the National Endowment for the Humanities. The federal law instructs this agency to support initiatives that ‘reflect the diversity and richness of our American cultural heritage’ and to give special consideration to scholars and institutions that have been traditionally marginalized.

Among the affected, the funding cutbacks have caused serious disturbances for multiple initiatives, including an Indigenous language preservation effort in Alaska, a pediatric terminal care department in Ohio, and rural libraries in Oregon. These disruptions were specifically highlighted by Judge Simon in his order.

In his order, Judge Simon stated that the humanities funding cessation had reverberating effects, causing a shockwave that halted operations from large urban areas to isolated rural communities throughout the nation. He seemed to particularly highlight this to underscore the nationwide impact of these significant funding decisions.

Phoebe Stein, the current president of the Federation of State Humanities Councils, expressed her commendation for Simon’s order in a statement on Wednesday, but cautioned that the current condition leaves these councils underfunded for the time being. The aftereffects of these decisions have led to staff layoffs and cancellations of imperative programs, Stein remarked.

The National Endowment for the Humanities has attempted to legally justify the funding cuts, insisting in court documentation that federal regulations entitle them to terminate grants if it is concluded that a grant does not align with the agency’s priorities. It seems that the wrangling over humanities funding reflects deeper debates over national priorities and the future direction of cultural heritage preservation.

Undeniably, the decision to redraw funding has sent ripples through the humanities community, stirring concern and controversy. This situation underscores the importance of humanities and cultural heritage in our society and raises questions about how these aspects of our history will be funded and preserved for future generations.

The resolution of this issue will undoubtedly have significant implications for humanities councils, their staff and beneficiaries, and indeed for the wider cultural heritage of the nation. It will be closely watched by all stakeholders moving forward