Pallone Leads NJ Democratic Delegation in Fight to Save State’s Humanities Grants from Trump Cuts

Long Branch, NJ - Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) today led Democratic members of the New Jersey congressional delegation in calling on the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to reverse its abrupt and unlawful decision to terminate federal funding for humanities programs across New Jersey. In a letter sent to Acting NEH Director Michael McDonald, the lawmakers strongly objected to the agency's decision to rescind grant funding already awarded to institutions across the state, including the New Jersey Council for the Humanities (NJCH).

Earlier this month, NEH issued funding termination notices to hundreds of grant recipients and state humanities councils. The notices, sent from a non-governmental account, stated that the awards "no longer effectuate the agency's needs and priorities," creating widespread confusion-especially as many emails were flagged as spam. That confusion was compounded by reports that NEH is cutting staff by up to 80 percent, leaving grant recipients without anyone at the agency to contact about contesting the terminations.

"The humanities use history, language, art, and ideas to help us think critically, communicate clearly, and see the human story behind every issue. Access to the humanities is the key to a strong democracy. The annual funding for the humanities comprises a miniscule percentage of the federal budget but delivers exponential rewards by providing opportunities for lifelong learning, fostering community conversations, and supporting local economies," the lawmakers wrote.

The lawmakers emphasized that NEH receives strong bipartisan support from Congress and past administrations and that its annual budget comprises a minuscule share of federal spending while producing wide-reaching benefits-fostering community conversations, lifelong learning, and local economic activity.

They warned that canceling NJCH's $1.5 million General Operating Support Grant will significantly reduce the number of grants and programs the council can offer. These include financial support for local organizations and individuals, and NJCH's own programming like the Clemente Course in the Humanities, which offers veterans free access to humanities education.

The lawmakers stressed that terminating promised funding jeopardizes the infrastructure that helps deliver access to the humanities across New Jersey, just as the state prepares to host major events like the nation's 250th anniversary and the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

They urged the agency to immediately reverse course: "Terminating federal funding for the humanities already promised to our state's small grantees is bad for our state's economy, reduces opportunities for civic and community engagement, and is just wrong," their letter states.

Pallone's letter specifically highlighted Rutgers-Newark's Lives in Translation program as an example of the impact NEH and NJCH grants have had in New Jersey. The program, which began as a volunteer effort, has grown into an academic initiative that offers a minor in Translation and Interpretation. Students serve as interpreters in courts, hospitals, food banks, and schools across the state and receive professional certification thanks to NEH-supported funding. During the pandemic, they worked with the city of Newark on contact tracing and helped lead the successful passage of a new state law that requires translation of public documents into the 15 most common languages spoken in New Jersey.

Two other NEH-supported projects include the Thomas A. Edison Papers and the New Jersey Digital Newspaper Program. The latter is a collaboration of the Rutgers University Libraries, the New Jersey State Archives, and the New Jersey State Library. This project digitized New Jersey's historical newspapers from microfilm so they are not lost forever. The Thomas A. Edison Papers makes the documentary legacy of America's and New Jersey's most prolific inventor and innovator accessible through journal and book publications, conference papers, media appearances, public lectures, museum collaborations, and educational programs.

Pallone's full letter can be found here and below:

Acting Director Michael McDonald
National Endowment for the Humanities
400 7th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20506

Acting Director McDonald:

We write to express our strong opposition to the unlawful termination of federal funding for the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the New Jersey Council for the Humanities (NJCH).

Earlier this month, NEH sent notices of funding termination to hundreds of grant awardees and state humanities councils. Grant recipients were told that their awards, which come directly from Congressionally approved programs, "no longer effectuate the agency's needs and priorities" and would be canceled. These unlawful notices were sent from a non-governmental account, creating confusion as many emails were automatically flagged as spam. This confusion was further exacerbated by reports that NEH is cutting staff by up to 80 percent, meaning grant recipients have no one at the agency to contest the termination emails.^[1]

Congress established NEH in 1965 to help preserve and tell our country's rich history from different and diverse perspectives. Since its establishment, NEH has received strong bipartisan support from Congress and Administrations alike because it serves Americans from every walk of life. The annual funding for the humanities comprises a miniscule percentage of the federal budget but delivers exponential rewards by providing opportunities for lifelong learning, fostering community conversations, and supporting local economies.

Rutgers University's Lives in Translation program is a clear example of the benefits that NEH funding can bring. Thanks to NEH funding, Rutgers University was able to expand its Lives in Translation program to offer a certification that helps students land a full-time job upon graduation. This program, which began as a volunteer effort, trains students in translation and interpretation while allowing them to serve others in courts, hospitals, food banks, and schools across the state.

State humanities councils like NJCH help build on direct awards from NEH by delivering federal funds to local partners. Canceling NJCH's $1.5 million General Operating Support Grant has already forced them to lay off staff and significantly scale back their operations. This includes grants and sponsorships that support the work of New Jersey organizations and individuals in the humanities. It also affects NJCH's own programming like their Clemente Course in the Humanities, which connects veterans with the humanities at no cost.

Steady, dependable funding from NEH serves as a spur for private investment and economic growth in our communities. By abruptly rescinding these grants, NEH is making New Jersey culturally and economically poorer. Major cultural events next year like America's 250^th Anniversary and the FIFA World Cup 2026 make it even more critical that New Jersey's universities, libraries, museums, performing arts centers, and other arts and humanities venues receive this funding from NEH and NJCH.

The humanities use history, language, art, and ideas to help us think critically, communicate clearly, and see the human story behind every issue. Access to the humanities is the key to a strong democracy. The writers of the National Foundation on the Arts and Humanities Act said it best, "we must not limit its efforts to science and technology alone, but must give full value and support to the other great branches of scholarly and cultural activity in order to achieve a better understanding of the past, a better analysis of the present, and a better view of the future."

For 60 years, small federal investments have helped New Jerseyans explore and better understand our unique heritage, traditions, and history. Terminating federal funding for the humanities already promised to our state's small grantees is bad for our state's economy, reduces opportunities for civic and community engagement, and is just wrong. We strongly urge you to reverse this short-sighted decision and restore funding to humanities organizations in New Jersey and across the country.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,