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.
This lawsuit is the latest in a series of legal actions against DOGE and the NEH, following similar suits by the Authors Guild and three other humanities organizations. The case underscores the ongoing battle over federal funding for the humanities, which has historically enjoyed bipartisan support. The NEH has awarded over $6 billion in grants since 1965 to museums, historical sites, universities, and libraries, supporting creative initiatives nationwide. The outcome could set a precedent for how federal humanities funding is protected against executive branch cuts, affecting cultural and educational programs across the United States.