Trump Proposes Eradication of NEH and NEA in His 2026 Budget Plan
Striking the Budget: The Trump administration's friday afternoon budget proposition threats the existence of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), and other agencies that nurture our nation's rich cultural landscape – if it passes through Congress.
Immediate consequences will be felt in the realm of arts and humanities funding across the United States, striking at the heart of these agencies and the myriad non-profits that depend on their support. This includes the 56 state and territorial humanities councils funded by the NEH, and other agencies like the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) – all potential victims of the proposal.
Past budget adjustments have significantly squeezed the 2025 budgets of these organizations, including a $65 million reduction from the NEH's $210 million budget and staff cuts nearing 65%. These funds have instead been directed to finance Trump's National Garden of American Heroes and various other projects[6].
The Mellon Foundation recently pledged $15 million in emergency funding to shield many state councils from closure, in response to the ongoing cuts. However, as the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) already ceased all funding for the 2025 fiscal year, things aren't looking too peachy[6].
Phoebe Stein, president of the Federation of State Humanities Councils, which backs the NEH-funded state humanities councils, sees the value in preserving these programs[1]. She underscored the significant contributions of state and territorial humanities councils, primarily to veterans' healing, children's literacy, and grassroots projects – resources essential for their success[1].
A lawsuit was instigated by three humanities-centric organizations on May 1, hoping to reverse the cuts in grant programs, NEH divisions, and staff. Furthermore, a judge recently issued a temporary restraining order to halt the Trump Administration's dismantling of the IMLS, foreshadowing a massive layoff of nearly its entire workforce[7].
In his initial term as president, Trump attempted, unsuccessfully, to extirpate funding for the NEH.
Article Sources:
- https://www.theartnewspaper.com
- https://www.nytimes.com
- https://www.washingtonpost.com
- https://www.desmoinesartcenter.org
- https://www.pbs.org
- https://www. mellon.org
- https://www.courthousenews.com
- The National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities, as well as other agencies promoting arts and culture, are under threat due to the Trump administration's proposed budget, which could lead to their potential demise if passed through Congress.
- The Institute of Museum and Library Services, a significant contributor to the cultural landscape, is also on the list of potential victims of the proposed budget, jeopardizing its role in supporting museums, libraries, and related non-profits.
- With the Trump administration's ongoing policy-and-legislation changes affecting the budget, general-news outlets have reported on various lawsuits and temporary restraining orders aimed at reversing cuts to arts and humanities agencies, citing their crucial roles in various initiatives like veterans' healing, children's literacy, and grassroots projects.
