1. United States
2. Md.
3. Letter

These cuts to the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) are extremely concerning and will have far-reaching negative consequences for higher education and society as a whole. With over 1,000 grants terminated, including projects at colleges and universities across the country, vital research, curriculum development, and public programming in the humanities will be severely impacted. The deep staffing cuts of 65% also cripple the NEH's ability to properly administer its remaining programs and grant initiatives. The humanities play a crucial role in helping us understand our history, culture, and society from diverse perspectives. Limiting support for the humanities risks promoting a narrow, sanitized view of American history that ignores uncomfortable but important truths about our nation's past. A vibrant democracy requires engaging with the complexity of the human experience. These draconian cuts undermine that principle and will hinder efforts to build a more just, inclusive, and enlightened society. I urge you to strongly oppose these reckless cuts to the NEH. This agency, though relatively small, provides immense value by making the humanities accessible to all Americans and fostering rigorous scholarship across the country. Fully restoring funding and staffing to the NEH should be a top priority to uphold academic freedom, intellectual inquiry, and our shared civic knowledge.