Advocate

Save Our Humanities Councils: DOGE Cuts to NEH will Damage Cultural Organizations in Every State, including Tennessee

On Monday, March 31, the Federation of State Humanities Councils learned that DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) 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. The National Endowment for the Humanities is the only federal agency that funds our nation’s 56 state and jurisdictional humanities councils.

The loss of NEH funding to humanities councils will decimate the ability of these nonprofits to serve communities in their states, eliminating programs that are essential to each state’s cultural infrastructure.

What does this mean for Humanities Tennessee? What will we lose?

• Free reading and book programs like the Southern Festival of Books, HT’s annual largest annual event connecting readers and authors for 36 years, and access to book news and events via Chapter16.org
• Young writer and reader programs like Student Readers Days that connect school students with authors while providing free books, plus our annual writing workshops for high school students
• Shared Futures Lab podcast spotlighting Tennessee stories and exploring ways to create a thriving future for all Tennesseans
• History programs commemorating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence
• Opportunities for K-12 students across the state to participate in Tennessee History Day and National History Day competitions
• Funding for rural museums and historical societies
• Scholarships for volunteers at small museums to attend the annual Tennessee Association of Museums conference
• AND SO MUCH MORE

Humanities Tennessee accomplishes this work and changes lives with a public investment of approximately $1.2 million annually through Congressionally appropriated funds to the National Endowment for the Humanities. We leverage this public investment to raise additional contributions from individuals, foundations, and corporations to sustain and grow our impact. The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) is crucial to preserving the history and culture of our state and our nation.

What can you do to protect funding for humanities programs in Tennessee and beyond?

We need every humanities supporter to make their voice heard. Here are concrete, effective actions you can take now:

STEP 1: Call or message your senators and representatives and urge them to protect NEH and humanities councils. Calls have proven very effective for various advocacy efforts recently.

STEP 2: Call or message your state and local elected officials and let them know how this loss of funds will impact your community.

STEP 3: Share this action alert on social media and send it directly to five people in your network and ask them to take action as well.

STEP 4: Share your story about why the humanities matter to you.

Sample Script for Contacting Elected Officials

As a constituent, I am [writing/calling] to urgently request that you support the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) in the face of the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) attempt to substantially reduce its staff, cut the agency’s grant programs, and rescind grants that have already been awarded.

4.10.25 UPDATE:

Specifically, I urge you to reinstate FY25 funding and allow Humanities Tennessee and all the state humanities councils access to the funds already appropriated by Congress and approved through the most recent Continuing Resolution (CR). Without access to these funds, Humanities Tennessee is at risk of closing their doors.

NEH is the only agency that funds our nation’s 56 state and jurisdictional humanities councils, which provide vital cultural services and critical funding to local nonprofit organizations across the nation.

[Humanities Tennessee talking points – sharing a personal experience can be the most effective message or see the bullet points above for program information]

NEH was created by an act of Congress in 1965 and reaffirmed by Republican and Democratic Presidents and legislators over the following 60 years. DOGE’s reductions to the NEH budget and workforce will block the agency’s ability to carry out Congressional intent.

Every Congress for 50 years has supported the state humanities councils and their effective distribution of federal dollars across America. These funds go directly to states (and your district) and allow councils to raise $2 in private investment for every federal dollar spent.

The loss of NEH funding to humanities councils will decimate the ability of these nonprofits to serve communities across our state, eliminating programs that are essential to our region’s cultural infrastructure.

Again, I urge you to protect NEH and NEH funding for humanities councils.

THANK YOU!

We greatly appreciate your efforts to speak to the value of history, cultural studies, stories, ideas, literary arts, and public humanities programming for everyone in Tennessee. Together, we foster connection and community, and this work more essential than ever!

If you feel compelled to make a tax-deductible donation to support public humanities work in Tennessee, you may do so HERE.

For additional information and support advocating for funding for the humanities, please contact Sandy Obodzinski, Development & Communication Director, at sandy@humtn.org or Tim Henderson, Executive Director, at tim@humtn.org.