Over the last two weeks, the Trump Administration has worked to gut the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). Agency leadership sent over 1,000 grant termination notices to grantees, and several long-running grant programs will not offer future deadlines. more cuts are expected. NEH provided more than $13 million in grant funding for museums, historic sites, independent scholars and humanities council affiliates in Oregon from 2020 to 2024.
These funding cuts will have a direct impact on people in Oregon:
In 2023, Literary Arts, Inc. received funding from NEH for the renovation of their newly purchased building. With the goal of being a communal space, renovations will provide the community with classroom and meeting spaces, staff offices, and other amenities.
The Portland Art Museum received NEH funding to construct a pavilion to connect the museum’s primary buildings. The goal of this construction was to not only physically connect the buildings, but to connect the museum to the community through enhanced public spaces and increased accessibility.
As of April 10, approximately 65% of NEH employees received reduction in force notices. Without proper staffing, even those programs that have not yet been cut will be difficult to administer. It is unclear whether or how grants will be awarded this year and in the future.
NEH offers dozens of funding opportunities to support humanities projects across the country. For more information about NEH visit: National Endowment for the Humanities.
