Late on Thursday night, staff at the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) were informed via email that they had been placed on paid administrative leave immediately. This announcement follows a recent communication from two days prior, which informed 56 state and jurisdiction humanities councils nationwide that their NEH grants were being discontinued.
The NEH has not issued any statements in response to multiple requests for comment. An unnamed senior NEH official confirmed to NPR that among the 145 employees placed on administrative leave—constituting 80% of the workforce—are those in communications, as well as program officers and directors. The official disclosed that a team from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) had been visiting NEH offices over the previous weeks, intensifying the scrutiny.
Earlier in the week, DOGE had advised NEH employees that significant layoffs would occur, and grant programs would be reduced. This was initially reported by The New York Times. Nearly half of the NEH’s budget is allocated directly to humanities councils across the United States and its territories, alongside grants for museums, libraries, preservation efforts, historical projects, and media initiatives through a competitive application process.
The American Federation of Government Employees Local 3403 (AFGE), representing a significant portion of NEH staff, released a statement condemning the layoffs and budget cuts as harmful. These cancellations of federal grants to humanities councils have sparked concern, with the Trump administration explaining the decision as a move to realign funding with the President’s agenda.
Caroline Lowery, executive director of the Oklahoma Humanities Council, described the ramifications of these changes as “devastating,” noting the impact on projects relating to important historical events within the state.
Christina Barr, executive director of Nevada Humanities, echoed the sentiment, stating that the funding cuts would severely impact their operations and the economic benefits generated by arts and culture programs in Nevada.
Alongside NEH, employees at the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) have also been placed on administrative leave. Erin Harkey, CEO of Americans for the Arts, referred to the actions against IMLS and NEH as a significant threat to American cultural infrastructure.
Harkey highlighted findings from a National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) study that indicated the arts and cultural sector’s rapid growth compared to the broader economy. According to the study, this sector contributes $1.2 trillion to the U.S. economy and supports 5.4 million jobs. Harkey warned that eliminating federal funding would adversely affect American families and local economies while also weakening the nation’s competitive stance.
The story was edited by Meghan Sullivan.
