Art News. Vasari Codex

article policy schedule Mar 25, 2026 visibility 19 link 2 artists

underground railroad museum sues trump administration

The Underground Railroad Education Center (UREC) in Albany, New York, has filed a lawsuit against the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) following the cancellation of a $250,000 grant. The legal action, filed in the US District Court for the Northern District of New York, alleges that the funding was revoked based on race and as part of a broader federal effort to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The center claims this cancellation violates its First and Fifth Amendment rights.

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article policy schedule Jan 8, 2026 visibility 13 link 1 artist

congress funding bill nea neh

Congress has unveiled a bipartisan partial funding package that would keep the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) budgets steady at $207 million each, despite President Donald Trump's proposal to eliminate both agencies. The three-bill "minibus" package faces a House vote and then Senate consideration, as the government seeks to avoid another shutdown after last year's record 43-day closure.

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article policy schedule Oct 3, 2025 visibility 16 link 1 artist

trump fires national council on the humanities

The White House fired the vast majority of the National Council on the Humanities, the advisory body for the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), on Wednesday during a government shutdown. A letter from Mary Sprowls of the Presidential Personnel Office informed council members that their positions were terminated effective immediately. Only four members remain—all white men—despite a statutory requirement for equitable representation of women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities. The council typically comprises 26 scholars and humanities leaders appointed for six-year terms, and its meetings require at least 14 members. The dismissals come as the NEH has already faced severe cuts, including a two-thirds staff reduction in June and a proposal to eliminate the agency entirely in the 2026 budget.

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article policy schedule Aug 7, 2025 visibility 10

cuts to neh grants ruled unlawful by federal judge oregon

A federal judge in Oregon ruled that the government's elimination of National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) grants was unlawful, finding that the cuts violated the Constitution's grant of spending power to Congress. The ruling came in a lawsuit filed by the Federation of State Humanities Councils and Oregon Humanities against the NEH and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which had terminated grants in April following extreme cuts. A separate case in New York, brought by the American Historical Association, the Modern Language Association, and the American Council of Learned Societies, also resulted in a ruling that the government violated the law, with the judge advising that funds be escrowed pending trial.

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article policy schedule May 6, 2025 visibility 11 link 1 artist

legal resistance grows against doge cuts

Two legal challenges advanced on Thursday against the Trump administration's cuts to U.S. cultural agencies. A coalition of academic groups—the American Council of Learned Societies, the American Historical Association, and the Modern Language Association—filed a lawsuit to stop the "illegal dismantling" of the National Endowment for the Humanities, which in April announced a 70–80 percent staff reduction and cancellation of over 1,000 grants. Separately, a federal judge issued an emergency order temporarily blocking similar cuts to the Institute of Museum and Library Services, after the Department of Government Efficiency placed its 75-person staff on leave and the American Libraries Association brought suit.

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article policy schedule May 8, 2026 visibility 20 link 1 gallery

DOGE Cuts to National Endowment for the Humanities Were Unconstitutional, Court Rules

A federal judge ruled that the cancellation of over 1,400 grants by the National Endowment for the Humanities, carried out by Elon Musk's Department of Governmental Efficiency (DOGE), was unconstitutional. Judge Colleen McMahon of the Federal District Court in Manhattan ordered DOGE to rescind the cancellations, finding that the cuts violated the First Amendment and the equal protection component of the Fifth Amendment. The lawsuits were filed after the NEH chairman was dismissed and the agency was redirected under President Donald Trump's "America First" cultural campaign, with acting chair Michael McDonald cutting most grants awarded by the previous administration. The cuts, totaling more than $100 million, disrupted research, publications, and humanities programming, and were reportedly flagged using ChatGPT to target grants related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

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article policy schedule May 16, 2025 visibility 12

doge sued oregon neh

The Federation of State Humanities Councils and Oregon Humanities have jointly filed a lawsuit in federal district court in Oregon against the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The suit challenges what they describe as the disruption and attempted destruction of the NEH and 56 state and jurisdictional humanities councils, seeking restoration of terminated grants and assurance that congressional appropriations continue to flow to these councils. The grants were canceled following extreme cuts by DOGE, prompting organizations to argue they can no longer effectively serve local communities without funding.

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article policy schedule May 13, 2025 visibility 6

the authors guild sues neh doge

A class action lawsuit was filed Monday by the Authors Guild, independent scholars, and writers against the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and officials within the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) for terminating millions in committed grants from Congressional funds. The lawsuit argues these actions violate the Administrative Procedure Act, the separation of powers, and freedom of expression, exceeding agencies' congressionally granted authority. It seeks to stop mass grant terminations, restore funds, and require the NEH to operate according to Congress's intent to preserve multicultural artistic heritage and support new ideas. The grants were canceled following extreme cuts by DOGE under the Trump administration, affecting recipients under programs like the Public Scholar and Fellowship initiatives.

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article policy schedule May 2, 2025 visibility 17

trump aims to eliminate the national endowment for the humanities

The Trump administration's 2026 budget proposal seeks to eliminate the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The proposal follows recent cuts that have already halted 2025 funding, slashed $65 million from the NEH's $210 million budget, and fired roughly 65% of its staff. A lawsuit filed by three humanities-focused organizations aims to reverse the cuts, and a judge has issued a temporary restraining order to block the dismantling of the IMLS. The Mellon Foundation has provided $15 million in emergency funding to state humanities councils to prevent closures.

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article policy schedule May 2, 2025 visibility 10

neh dismantling lawsuit acls mla aha

Three humanities-focused organizations—the American Historical Association, the Modern Language Association, and the American Council of Learned Societies—have filed a lawsuit against the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) over the dismantling of the NEH. Filed on May 1 in the Southern District of New York, the suit seeks to reverse cuts made in April by the Trump administration, which slashed $65 million from the NEH's $210 million budget and fired approximately 65 percent of its staff. The plaintiffs argue the NEH has been reduced to a shell of its former self, and they name as defendants NEH acting chairman Michael McDonald, DOGE acting administrator Amy Gleason, and DOGE employees Nate Cavanaugh and Justin Fox, who allegedly demanded lists of open grants and terminated most of them without legal authority.

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article policy schedule Jan 20, 2026 visibility 11 link 1 artist

neh awards grants promote classical art conservative values

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has awarded $75.1 million to 84 projects in its first grant round since President Donald Trump dismissed nearly all members of the National Council on the Humanities. The largest grants—$10 million each—went to the University of Texas at Austin and the Foundation for Excellence in Higher Education (FEHE), with other significant awards to the Abigail Adams Institute, Grand Central Atelier, and the Museum of the American Revolution. Many funded projects emphasize American exceptionalism, classical philosophy, civics, and Western canonical texts, reflecting the Trump administration's conservative priorities.

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article policy schedule Jan 19, 2026 visibility 13 link 3 artists

National Endowment for the Humanities awards $75.1m to 84 projects across the US

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has awarded $75.1 million to 84 projects across the United States, marking the first grants since the Trump administration dismissed most members of the National Council on the Humanities. Major recipients include the University of Texas at Austin and the Foundation for Excellence in Higher Education, each receiving $10 million for programs focused on civics, strategy, and "Great Books." Other notable grants include $2.2 million for Philadelphia's Museum of the American Revolution and $2 million for Grand Central Atelier, a small art school in Queens that teaches classical realist techniques.

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