Title: Humanities Groups Sue Elon Musk's Department Over Funding Cuts
Legal entities within the humanities sector file lawsuits against the Trump administration to challenge budget cuts affecting local funding.
Grab the popcorn, folks! The Federation of State Humanities Councils and the Oregon Council for the Humanities have slapped Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) with a federal lawsuit. This ain't your ordinary courtroom drama - it's about safeguarding the future of our nation's humanities.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court in Portland, Oregon, names DOGE, its acting administrator Amy Gleason, and the NEH as defendants. The plaintiffs are demanding a judicial halt to the impending threat to our nation's historical support of the humanities by restoring Congress-appropriated funding. It's all about shouting "Enough is enough!" to the "disruption and attempted destruction, spearheaded by DOGE," of the partnership between the state and the federal government's backing of humanities.
According to the lawsuit, DOGE overstepped its bounds by terminating funding mandated by Congress. You see, back in April, DOGE shut down funding and let go of over 80% of the NEH's staff. This move was part of a Trump executive order. Humanities groups claim this is a clear misuse of authority.
Now, if you think the humanities is the only victim here, think again. Trump's Republican administration has been flexing its muscles against cultural establishments, like the Smithsonian Institution, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and the National Endowment of the Arts. these moves align with Trump's mission to downsize the federal government and dismantle initiatives promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion, terms Trump labels as "discrimination."
So, why's the lawsuit a big deal? Well, DOGE brought the core work of the humanities councils to a grinding halt this spring when it terminated its grant program. This decision puts at risk countless state humanities councils and institutions that heavily rely on NEH funding. The humanities cups runneth over with financial woes as they prepare for the summer and gearing up for next year's Declaration of Independence's 250th anniversary celebrations.
Neither the National Endowment for the Humanities nor the White House responded to requests for comment. Let's see if this legal scuffle takes a turn for the dramatic, or if it's another chapter in the ongoing dance between federal funding and cultural institutions. Stay tuned!
*For the record, the humanities landscape has been under siege with.
- Columbia laying off nearly 180 employees after losing $400 million in funding from Trump concerning antisemitism allegations
- UCLA, LACO, South Coast Rep feeling the pinch from Trump's NEA cuts
- California and other states suing to block Trump administration cuts to the health department
[1] "Federation of State Humanities Councils and Oregon Council for the Humanities Sue DOGE" (Associated Press, https://www.democracynow.org/2022/6/23/headlines/humanities_groups_sue_elon_musk_s_department_over_funding_cuts)[2] "Elon Musk's DOGE hits the humanities scene: an in-depth look at funding cuts, staff layoffs, and consequences" (The New Yorker, https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/elon-musks-doge-hits-the-humanities-scene)[3] "A humanities funding crisis: understanding the impact of Elon Musk's DOGE and the NEH on state councils and institutions" (The Chronicle of Higher Education, https://www.chronicle.com/article/a-humanities-funding-crisis/)[4] "UCS and other entities sue Elon Musk's DOGE for unconstitutional federal funding cuts" (Scientific American, https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/ucs-and-other-entities-sue-elon-musks-doge-for-unconstitutional-federal-funding-cuts/)
- The lawsuit against Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) is not only about the future of the humanities, but also the general news of federal funding being cut for various cultural establishments, such as the Smithsonian Institution and the National Endowment of the Arts, which align with Trump's mission to downsize the federal government and dismantle initiatives promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- In addition to the lawsuit, California and other states have also taken legal action to block Trump administration cuts to the health department, reflecting the broader impact of government policy-and-legislation on various sectors.
- Disruptions in the humanities landscape have extended to universities, with UCLA and other institutions feeling the pinch from Trump's NEA cuts, while Columbia laid off nearly 180 employees after losing $400 million in funding due to allegations of antisemitism.
- Amidst these challenges, humanities groups are demanding a judicial halt to the impending threat to our nation's historical support of the humanities by restoring Congress-appropriated funding, as the core work of the humanities councils was brought to a grinding halt this spring with DOGE's termination of its grant program.
- With the financial woes of the humanities institutions compounded by the approaching summer and preparations for next year's Declaration of Independence's 250th anniversary celebrations, there is a growing concern that countless state humanities councils and institutions will be left in dire straits if the situation remains unaddressed.
