![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.historians.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/towfiqu-barbhuiya-oZuBNC-6E2s-unsplash-1.jpg\" "\\"towfiqu-barbhuiya-oZuBNC-6E2s-unsplash")
\n\n\t\t\tFAQs Regarding the Lawsuit\t<\/h5>\n\t
This document offers information related to the lawsuit filed by the ACLS, AHA, and MLA, opposing the illegal dismantling of the National Endowment for the Humanities.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead Now\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t The AHA is tracking information on federal actions and their impact on history and education.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLearn More\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t The American Historical Association, in collaboration with our colleagues at the American Council of Learned Societies and the Modern Language Association, have filed a lawsuit in response to the illegal dismantling of the National Endowment for the Humanities. We need your support for this and other advocacy efforts, in Washington and in the states on behalf of social studies education. Please join our community of members and donors. Join<\/a> or donate<\/a> today.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDonate Now\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t ~Sarah Weicksel, American Historical Association<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\t ~James Grossman, American Historical Association<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t ~Joy Connolly, American Council of Learned Societies<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t ~Paula Krebs, Modern Language Association<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\t\t\n AHA, ACLS, & MLA filed an appeal regarding the court’s ruling that we did not have standing to pursue our program-related claims, which challenged the dismantling of NEH funding programs and reduction of NEH staff. We will simultaneously continue with termination-related claims (Counts VIII and IX), which assert that DOGE acted without appropriate authority in terminating awards.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLearn More\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n Judge Colleen McMahon issues a decision for the Authors Guild, putting a stay on the cancellations of the NEH’s awarded grants.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLearn More\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n The plaintiffs submit a brief contending that “CASA does not affect the Court’s ability to award ACLS Plaintiffs’ requested relief.”<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLearn More\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n The judge requests the parties “provide the court with their views about how the Supreme Court’s June 27, 2025 opinion in Trump v. CASA<\/em> impacts the requests for relief in these cases and the ability of this court to issue relief with respect to any specific discrete aspect of the complaints.”<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLearn More\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n The plaintiffs file a combined reply<\/a> in support of the motion for a preliminary injunction and in opposition to the defendants’ motion to dismiss.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLearn More\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n The defendants file a motion<\/a> in opposition to the plaintiffs’ request for a preliminary injunction.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLearn More\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n The American Council of Learned Societies<\/a> (ACLS), the American Historical Association<\/a> (AHA), and the Modern Language Association<\/a> (MLA) filed a motion<\/a> for a preliminary injunction to enjoin the unlawful dismantling of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).<\/p>\n Read Joy Connolly’s (ACLS) Declaration<\/a><\/p>\n Read James Grossman’s (AHA) Declaration<\/a><\/p>\n Read Paula Krebs’s (MLA) Declaration<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLearn More\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n The American Council of Learned Societies<\/a> (ACLS), the American Historical Association<\/a> (AHA), and the Modern Language Association<\/a> (MLA) filed a lawsuit<\/a> in federal district court, seeking to reverse the recent actions to devastate the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), including the elimination of grant programs, staff, and entire divisions and programs.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLearn More\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n The American Historical Association releases a statement condemning the evisceration of the National Endowment for the Humanities, as the current administration’s Department of Government Efficiency has terminated hundreds of grants and put 75% of staff on leave. “The NEH and the grants it administers nourish our democracy through research, education, preservation, institutional capacity building, and public programming in the humanities for the benefit of the American people,” the statement reads. “This frontal attack on the nation’s public culture is unpatriotic, anti-American, and unjustified.”<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead the Statement\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n The NEH terminates over 1,200 grants, including the AHA’s Africa in World History<\/a> and Changes Across the Land<\/a> teacher institutes.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead More\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n Shelly C. Lowe, the chair of the NEH, leaves her position “at the direction of President Trump.” Michael McDonald, the agency’s general counsel, is appointed the acting chair.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead More\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n If you are a member of the media and would like to submit a request for a referral or interview, please email\u00a0press@historians.org<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n Please provide any pertinent deadlines and we will do our best to accommodate your request. The AHA can find you a historian for any topic, and assists with dozens of inquiries each year.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tContact Us\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n Piper Hudspeth Blackburn\u00a0and\u00a0Sunlen Serfaty, “Trump’s cultural overhaul throttles local arts, humanities programs nationwide<\/a>,”\u00a0CNN<\/em>, May 22, 2025).<\/p>\n Daniel Grant, “Foundations’ emergency arts and humanities grants provide temporary fix for gaps left by Trump’s slashing of federal funding,<\/a>” (The Art Newspaper<\/em>, May 21, 2025).<\/p>\n Gary Fields, “Humanities groups sue Trump administration to reverse local funding cuts<\/a>,” The Washington Post<\/em>, May 16, 2025).<\/p>\n American Historical Association, “ACLS, AHA, & MLA Seek Injunction to Prevent Dismantling of NEH<\/a>,” (American Historical Association<\/em>, May 15, 2025).<\/p>\n Gene Andrew Jarrett, “Defunding the NEH threatens more than just the humanities<\/a>,” (The Hill<\/em>, May 10, 2025)<\/p>\n Brian Boucher, “Legal Resistance Grows Against DOGE Cuts to Cultural Agencies<\/a>,” (artnet<\/em>, May 2, 2025).<\/p>\n Maximil\u00edano Dur\u00f3n, “Three Humanities Organizations Sue NEH Over Its ‘Dismantling,’<\/a>” ARTNews<\/em>, May 2, 2025).<\/p>\n Walter Hudson, “Humanities Organizations File Lawsuit Against NEH Over Massive Program Cuts<\/a>,” Diverse Issues in Higher Ed<\/em>, May 2, 2025).<\/p>\n Jennifer Schuessler, “Lawsuit Against Humanities Endowment Offers Details on DOGE<\/a>,” (New York Times<\/em>, May 2, 2025).<\/p>\n “ACLS, AHA, & MLA File Lawsuit Alleging Illegal Dismantling of National Endowment for the Humanities<\/a>,” (American Historical Association<\/em>, May 1, 2025.<\/p>\n Jeffrey Brown and Simon Epstein, “Exploring the efforts to control how U.S. history is presented in museums and monuments<\/a>,” (PBS NewsHour<\/em>, May 1, 2025).<\/p>\nGary Fields, “New lawsuit challenges DOGE actions shutting down NEH,<\/a>” Associated Press<\/em>, May 1, 2025).\nRiley Hayes, “Lawsuit Challenges Cuts to National Humanities Funding Programs<\/a>,” (Investors Hangout<\/em>, May 1, 2025).\nOwen Reimer, “UNL faculty, students respond to sweeping DOGE cuts to humanities grants<\/a>,” (The Daily Nebraskan<\/em>, May 1, 2025).\nQuinn Wilson, “DOGE Sued Over Cuts at National Endowment for the Humanities<\/a>,” Bloomberg Law<\/em>, May 1, 2025).\n Adam Wren, Ben Johansen, Sophia Cai, and Irie Sentner, “Musk’s WSJ rage says it all<\/a>,” (Politico<\/em>, May 1, 2025).<\/p>\n Letter from Sen. Elizabeth Warren and other Congressmen to Michael McDonald, Acting NEH Chairman<\/a>, (April 21, 2025).<\/p>\n Avery Lotz, “DOGE takes a slice out of America’s 250th birthday<\/a>,” (Axios<\/em>, April 15, 2025).<\/p>\n Claire Rush and Gary Fields, “Plans to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary were underway until federal cuts<\/a>,” (Associated Press<\/em>, April 14, 2025).<\/p>\n Bro Adams, “Saving the NEH<\/a>,” (Medium<\/em>, April 11, 2025).<\/p>\n Kathryn Palmer, “‘Draconian’ Layoffs, Grant Terminations Come for the NEH<\/a>,” (Inside Higher Ed<\/em>, April 11, 2025).<\/p>\n Sasha Senderovich, “Trump wants to fight antisemitism. So why did he kill funding for my Holocaust translation project?<\/a>” (Forward<\/em>, April 11, 2025).<\/p>\n “Media Coverage of Cuts to NEH and the Humanities Councils<\/a>,” (Federation of State Humanities Councils<\/em>, April 11, 2025).<\/p>\n Elisabeth Blair, “Where did U.S. humanities grants go? To projects from a baseball film to AI research<\/a>,” (National Public Radio<\/em>, April 10, 2025).<\/p>\n Janay Kingsberry and Anne Branigin, “Staff cuts begin at NEH, threatening humanities programs across U.S.<\/a>,” (Washington Post<\/em>, April 10, 2025).<\/p>\n Katina Rogers, “DOGE’s Latest Cuts Will Hit Local Culture Hard<\/a>,” (Slate<\/em>, April 10, 2025).<\/p>\n Jennifer Schuessler, “Canceled Humanities Grants to Help Pay for Trump’s ‘Garden of Heroes’,<\/a>” (New York Times<\/em>, April 10, 2025).<\/p>\n Sarah Schwartz, “What National Endowment for the Humanities Cuts Could Mean for Social Studies Teachers<\/a>,” (EdWeek,\u00a0<\/em>April 9, 2025).<\/p>\n Natalia Mehlman Petrzela, “Here’s What One of Trump’s Grantee Termination Letters Looks Like<\/a>,” (The New Republic<\/em>, April 8, 2025).<\/p>\n Janay Kingsberry and Anne Branigin, “At least 1,200 grants canceled as NEH cuts target humanities across U.S.<\/a>,” (Washington Post<\/em>, April 7, 2025).<\/p>\n Claire Thornton and Malcolm Gay, “‘I am stunned.’ Mass. cultural groups see federal funding abruptly slashed<\/a>,” (Boston Globe<\/em>, April 4, 2025).<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\tInitiatives to Track NEH Grant Terminations<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t Disruption Impact Survey<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n “Joint Statement on Cuts to the National Endowment for the Humanities<\/a>,” April 3, 2025.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ACH Advocacy for NEH Awardees<\/a><\/p>\n Database and Visualization highlighting the impact of grant cancellations at the NEH<\/a><\/p>\n Lauren Tilton (ACH), Sarah Weicksel (AHA), and Jason Rhody (MLA), “Resources from the Information Exchange about the NEH Appeal Process,<\/a>” May 1, 2025.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “NHA Statement on Threats to the NEH<\/a>,” April 1, 2025.<\/p>\n Save the NEH!<\/a><\/p>\n Share stories about the impact of NEH funding!<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n![\"Table](\"https:\/\/www.historians.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/andrew-neel-1-29wyvvLJA-unsplash.jpg\" "\\"andrew-neel-1-29wyvvLJA-unsplash\\"")
\n\n\t\t\tTracking Federal Actions Affecting History\t<\/h5>\n\t
Support the AHA’s Advocacy Efforts<\/h3>\n\t\t
The NEH is vital to the American public’s engagement with the vibrant landscape of humanities education and research. We remain committed to pursuing all legal options to ensure that the work of the NEH and its staff continues to connect Americans with the history and culture that is so central to civic engagement.<\/h5>\n
The overall dismantling of the NEH will have dire consequences for the American Historical Association and its more than 130 affiliates. The NEH does more than fund the work of the thousands of historians who belong to the AHA and these affiliated societies. The agency is, in essence, the convener of humanities disciplines. Because of its resources, the professionalism and intellect of its staff, and its prestige, the NEH regularly convenes representatives of scholarly associations, higher education institutions, state humanities councils, museums, and other organizations. We learn not only from NEH staff, but from one another in ways that are impossible through publications or even online.<\/h5>
As the agency embodying public investment in the humanities, the NEH is uniquely positioned to lead public-private partnerships in support of the humanities on a national scale. . . . As no other foundation or organization does, they [NEH staff] have knowledge of the many types of institutions of higher education in the US where work in the humanities takes place: e.g. community colleges, regional comprehensive universities, liberal arts colleges, universities.”<\/h5>
The loss of the NEH as an institution will harm higher education in the United States. The NEH represents the only democratic, open funding processes in the country for humanities scholars. . . .The significant loss of staffing at the NEH will also produce harm to the humanities in the US. NEH staff members are resources for faculty members, associations, researchers, and public humanities bodies all over the country. . . . This loss of institutional knowledge, the loss of data-gathering, loss of support for local programming and for individual research projects is a loss from which it is hard to imagine how the country will recover.<\/h5>
\n\t\t\tTimeline & Latest Updates\t<\/h3>\n
\n\t\t\tAugust 1, 2025\t<\/h3>\n\t
\n\t\t\tJuly 25, 2025\t<\/h3>\n\t
\n\t\t\tJuly 2, 2025\t<\/h3>\n\t
\n\t\t\tJune 27, 2025\t<\/h3>\n\t
\n\t\t\tJune 13, 2025\t<\/h3>\n\t
\n\t\t\tJune 5, 2025\t<\/h3>\n\t
\n\t\t\tMay 14, 2025\t<\/h3>\n\t
\n\t\t\tMay 1, 2025\t<\/h3>\n\t
\n\t\t\tApril 4, 2025\t<\/h3>\n\t
\n\t\t\tApril 2, 2025\t<\/h3>\n\t
\n\t\t\tMarch 12, 2025\t<\/h3>\n\t
\n\t\t\tFor the Press\t<\/h4>\n\t
\n\t\t\tArticles & Initiatives\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\tArticles, News, & Op-Eds<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t
American Association for State and Local History<\/h4>\n
American Council of Learned Societies<\/h4>\n
Association for Computers and the Humanities<\/h4>\n
National Humanities Alliance<\/h4>\n