On August 6, a federal judge in Oregon ruled that the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) acted unlawfully when it ended operating grants to state humanities councils.
The case, brought by Oregon Humanities and the Federation of State Humanities Councils affirmed that these grants — established by Congress more than 50 years ago — are essential to the public humanities and their lawsuit against the Trump regime can proceed.
The judge ruled that NEH’s sudden elimination of Congressionally approved grants was “unlawful” and “unconstitutional,” allowing the lawsuit to move forward. The judge reaffirmed that Congress, not the President, holds the power of the purse.
In July, a New York federal court similarly found that the government violated the law when it canceled humanities grants that had already been awarded,” according to NPR. “It said that the grants should be reinstated until after the case has been tried.”
Funding Still Not Restored
The latest ruling “is a critical step forward” an email from Humanties New York said, “though it does not yet restore funding.”
Humanties New York is one of 56 humanities councils — one in every state, territory, and the District of Columbia.
These nonpartisan 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations were established in 1971 by Congress to make public humanities programming accessible to everyday Americans in all communities across the United States.
For over five decades, councils have received federal funding from Congress through the NEH, until that funding was ended by the Trump regime.
These operating grants have been the backbone of state humanities councils budgets. Their sudden termination in April left councils without the stability to plan or sustain programming.
Emergency support from the Mellon Foundation kept doors open, but five months without federal funds have meant layoffs, cancelled programs, and rapid fundraising to try to fill the most urgent gaps.
Advocates say that despite Congress approving $65 million for councils in March, less than half has reached them in 2025.
More than one-third of programs and 60% of grant-making are on hold, affecting museums, libraries, and nonprofits across New York State and the nation.
Some state councils are operating in “hibernation mode,” hoping to resume their work when funds are restored.
In issuing his Order, Judge Michael H. Simon quoted Representative William D. Ford, who said in 1968 that, “The arts and the humanities are not frills, but are crucial to our Nation’s survival and continued freedom.”
Judge Simon went on to specify the value of funding for humanities councils, writing that “One of the ‘most direct and significant benefits’ to Congress of the NEH structure is the ‘Federal/State Partnership,’ under which NEH provides grants to state and other jurisdictions in the United States, which then spend that money within their jurisdictions on local humanities projects. In creating this structure, Congress specifically recognized the importance of ‘guaranteeing the stability and assurance of federal funding’.”
Every donation to Humanties New York made through the end of the year will be matched one-to-one, up to $50,000 by a Mellon Foundation grant through the Federation of State Humanities Councils.
Learn more about humanities councils at statehumanities.org.
The full recent court decision can be read here.
New York Almanack is reporting on the Trump regime’s impacts in New York State, but we can’t do it without your help. Please support this work.
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