Voice Your Support for the Humanities

Our work is under threat—here’s how you can help.

On April 1, we learned we learned that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has targeted the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) with the aim of substantially if not completely reducing its staff, cutting grant programs, and even rescinding grants that have already been awarded. On April 2, we received a brusque letter—as did all other state humanities councils—informing us that an NEH grant intended to support our work through 2027 has been terminated. 

The NEH is Oregon Humanities’ largest funder and oldest partner. Our organization was created in 1971 to distribute NEH funds to public humanities projects in communities all over Oregon. The loss of NEH funding to humanities councils, including Oregon’s, will have a devastating effect on our ability to serve our communities. NEH funding accounted for 44 percent of Oregon Humanities' budget in 2024, and a much larger share at many other councils.
 

 

Script for Contacting Elected Officials:

Protect NEH/ Save Our Humanities Council

As a constituent, I am [writing/calling] to urgently request that you support the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) in the face of the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) attempt to substantially reduce its staff, cut the agency’s grant programs, and rescind grants that have already been awarded.

NEH is the only agency that funds our nation’s 56 state and jurisdictional humanities councils, which provide vital cultural services and critical funding to local nonprofit organizations across the nation. 

Each year, Oregon Humanities engages tens of thousands of Oregonians and hundreds of local partner organizations through in-person programs, grants, and media.

NEH was created by an act of Congress in 1965 and reaffirmed by Republican and Democratic Presidents and legislators over the following 60 years. DOGE’s reductions to the NEH budget and workforce will block the agency’s ability to carry out Congressional intent.

Every Congress for 50 years has supported the state humanities councils and their effective distribution of federal dollars across America. These funds go directly to states (and your district) and allow councils to raise $2 in private investment for every federal dollar spent.

The loss of NEH funding to humanities councils will decimate the ability of these nonprofits to serve communities across our state, eliminating programs that are essential to our region’s cultural infrastructure. 

Again, I urge you to protect NEH and NEH funding for humanities councils.