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• The Trump administration has canceled millions of dollars in federal humanities research grants.
• Affected projects include historical research, educational programs, and cultural preservation initiatives.
• The move is part of a broader redirection of the National Endowment for the Humanities’ resources.

Quick Brief

2-Minute Digest

Essential Context

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has been a cornerstone of federal arts and humanities funding since its establishment in 1965. However, the Trump administration has recently terminated funding for numerous NEH grants, affecting a wide range of projects across the U.S.

Core Players

• Donald Trump – President Trump, driving the current policy changes.
• National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) – The agency responsible for distributing the grants.
• Humanities Texas – A nonprofit receiving significant NEH funding, now severely impacted.
• University of Texas professors – Several projects led by these academics have been affected.

Key Numbers

• $7 million – Total value of grants to Austin-based projects that have been canceled.
• $5.9 million – Largest grant awarded to Humanities Texas for a five-year project.
• $207 million – NEH’s appropriation for fiscal year 2024.
• 15 – Number of projects in Austin involving writers, historians, and academics affected by the cancellations.

Full Depth

Complete Coverage

The Catalyst

The Trump administration’s decision to terminate NEH grants was communicated to grantees this week, citing the need to “repurpose its funding allocations in a new direction in furtherance of President Trump’s agenda.”

This move has been met with widespread criticism from the academic and cultural communities.

Inside Forces

The NEH, established during the Lyndon B. Johnson administration, has been virtually shuttered, with its workforce placed on administrative leave and funding frozen.

The agency’s grants supported a diverse array of projects, from developing an oral history curriculum for first-generation college students to researching the scientific and agricultural exchanges between Chile and the U.S.

Power Dynamics

The Trump administration’s influence over federal agencies has led to significant changes in funding priorities. The NEH’s acting director, Michael McDonald, and the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) have been instrumental in implementing these changes.

This shift in policy reflects a broader effort to align federal funding with the administration’s agenda, often at the expense of programs focused on arts, humanities, and cultural preservation.

Outside Impact

The cancellation of these grants will have far-reaching consequences for various institutions and individuals. For example, Humanities Texas, which relies heavily on NEH funding, faces a “devastating effect” with the loss of $2.6 million annually, about 65% of its budget.

Other affected projects include research on the intertwined histories of the Imperial Sugar Company and the Texas penitentiary system, as well as studies on Black Cuban immigrants in the U.S. South during the 1960s and 1970s.

Future Forces

The immediate future for these projects is uncertain. Many grantees are exploring alternative funding sources, but the sudden loss of federal support has left a significant gap.

Long-term, the redirection of NEH funds could reshape the landscape of humanities research and cultural programs in the U.S., potentially leading to a decline in scholarly and cultural activities that were previously supported.

Data Points

• April 2, 2025: CT Humanities informed that its federal operating grant was terminated, resulting in a $1.5 million loss.
• April 8, 2025: Austin-based grantees learned their NEH funding was canceled, affecting 15 projects.
• 1965: The National Endowment for the Humanities was established.
• $30,000: Grant amount received by Alison Macor for her research on gay Hollywood and studio power.
• $60,000: Grant amount for Jena Heath’s oral history curriculum project.