Policy Updates
NHA Statement on NEH Lawsuit
Posted OnMay 1, 2025 byOn Thursday, May 1, 2025, the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS), the American Historical Association (AHA), and the Modern Language Association (MLA) filed a lawsuit in federal district court seeking to reverse recent actions that threaten to devastate the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). Established in 1965 by Congress, the NEH is a…Read More…
NHA Statement on Threats to the NEH
Posted OnApril 1, 2025 byFor Immediate Release On Monday, March 31, 2025 we learned that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is targeting the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) with the aim of substantially reducing its staff, cutting the agency’s grant programs, and rescinding grants that have already been awarded. DOGE is targeting a small federal agency that—with…Read More…
FY 2024 Funding Round-Up and What Comes Next
Posted OnMay 8, 2024 byBy Alexandra Klein After an extended delay and four continuing resolutions, Congress passed funding bills for FY 24 in March–more than five months after the fiscal year began. Congress passed the first six FY 24 appropriations bills on March 8, including the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies bill, which included $207 million for the NEH….Read More…
Big Wins for the Humanities in the FY 23 Omnibus
Posted OnJanuary 3, 2023 byBy Alexandra Klein At the end of December, the FY 23 omnibus appropriations bill was passed by both the House and the Senate after several months of negotiations. The bill included very significant wins for humanities advocates, including the largest yearly increase for the NEH in the agency’s history. The agency will receive $207 million,…Read More…
Senate Releases FY 2023 Appropriations Bills
Posted OnAugust 3, 2022 byBy Alexandra Klein Last week, the Senate Appropriations Committee released their versions of the FY 23 draft appropriations bills. In general, the bills included increases for all of our priorities albeit smaller ones than the House draft bills. The Interior Subcommittee bill included $195 million for the NEH, a $15 million increase over FY 22…Read More…
FY 2023 Dear Colleague Letter Successes
Posted OnJune 15, 2022 byBy Alexandra Klein Each year, NHA works with our advocacy partners and allies on the Hill to cultivate sign-ons to Dear Colleague Letters requesting increased funding for various humanities programs. These letters are led by specific Representatives and Senators, and we encourage additional members to sign on, lending their support to the appropriations request. Though…Read More…
Biden Administration Requests Big Increases for the Humanities
Posted OnMarch 29, 2022 byBy Alexandra Klein Yesterday, the Biden administration released its FY 23 budget request. Congress will now begin its appropriations process, ultimately drafting and passing bills that will fund the government in FY 23. Several of our biggest priorities, including the National Endowment for the Humanities, Institute of Museum and Library Services, and National Archives and…Read More…
Shelly Lowe Confirmed as Next NEH Chair
Posted OnFebruary 3, 2022 byBy Alexandra Klein Late last night, Shelly Lowe was confirmed by the Senate as the 12th chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Her appointment will be made official by the White House in the coming days, and she will begin her tenure shortly thereafter. Lowe is a citizen of the Navajo Nation and…Read More…
Senate Releases FY 2022 Appropriations Bills
Posted OnOctober 19, 2021 byBy Alexandra Klein The Senate Appropriations Committee released the remaining nine appropriations bills for FY 22 yesterday afternoon. Included in the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies bill was $182.5 million for the National Endowment for the Humanities. This is an increase of $15 million over FY 21 but falls short of the $201 million included…Read More…
Good news for the humanities in FY 22 emerging from the House
Posted OnJune 29, 2021 byBy Alexandra Klein Over the past week, the House appropriations subcommittees have begun releasing bills and passing them out of subcommittee. Yesterday, the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee passed its FY 22 appropriations bill containing $201 million each for the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Endowment for the Arts. This reflects an increase…Read More…