Staff at the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) were notified late Thursday night via email that they are being placed on paid administrative leave effective immediately. This development follows a recent communication sent to 56 state and jurisdiction humanities councils across the nation announcing the termination of their NEH grants.
The NEH has yet to respond to multiple inquiries regarding this situation.
A senior NEH official, who requested anonymity due to their non-authorization to speak publicly, confirmed that approximately 80% of the staff, totaling 145 employees, including individuals from communications, program officers, and directors, are affected by this administrative leave. The official noted that a team from the Department of Government Efficiency has been visiting NEH offices for an assessment over the past weeks, amplifying the pressure on the agency.
Previously, the Department of Government Efficiency had communicated to NEH staff regarding impending layoffs and the reduction of grant programs, an assertion first reported in the media.
Nearly half of the NEH’s budget is allocated directly to humanities councils throughout every U.S. state and jurisdiction. Additionally, the endowment funds museums, libraries, preservation efforts, historical documentation, and media projects through a competitive grant assessment process.
The American Federation of Government Employees Local 3403 (AFGE), representing many NEH employees, issued a statement condemning the cuts to personnel and funding. The union described the approach towards employees and grantees as “damaging” and “un-American.”
Humanities councils are expressing alarm over the cancellation of millions in federal grants previously awarded by the NEH. The letter received by these councils indicated that the funding was being redirected in line with the current administration’s agenda, implying a strategic reallocation of resources.
Caroline Lowery, executive director of the Oklahoma Humanities Council, expressed that the impact would be “devastating,” highlighting the council’s support for critical projects, including oral histories from Tulsa Race Massacre survivors and archiving materials related to the Oklahoma City bombing.
“This will mean the erasure of our ability to preserve and share our history,” Lowery emphasized, noting that bipartisan support exists for their initiatives. “These funds had already been mandated by Congress and signed into law.”
In a similar vein, Christina Barr, executive director of Nevada Humanities, articulated that the loss of NEH funding would significantly hinder their operations and diminish the economic impact of arts and culture programming in Nevada.
Staff members at the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) also faced administrative leave during the same week, indicating a broader trend of operational upheaval within cultural institutions.
Erin Harkey, CEO of Americans for the Arts, characterized the actions against both the IMLS and the NEH as “an unprecedented threat to culture in America.” She emphasized that the elimination of federal support for these agencies will negatively affect local economies across the country, highlighting that the arts and cultural sector experienced remarkable growth compared to the overall economy between 2022 and 2023.
“Recent economic data underscores the importance of these institutions to the U.S. economy, contributing $1.2 trillion and supporting approximately 5.4 million jobs,” Harkey stated, warning that cuts to arts and humanities funding will harm American families and diminish the nation’s competitive edge.
