The National Endowment for the Humanities, and its affiliates, are facing massive cuts including the cancellation of already awarded grants intended for arts and cultural groups nationwide, including Arizona.
This affects libraries, museums, public programs, state economies, and one expert says the protection of America’s cultural legacy.
Millions of dollars in grants are at stake with DOGE’s latest action, canceling all awarded grants including general operating grants for all humanities councils across the country, like the one in Arizona.
Arizona Humanities facilitates grants and runs free public programs state-wide — one being the AZ reads initiative.
The Arizona Humanities executive director Brenda Thomson says she doesn’t understand anyone who thinks literacy is NOT essential.
“That program even though it’s fairly new, it’s in its fourth year, that program provides books to teachers and K-12 schools,” Thomson said.
She called DOGE’s actions illegal because the Endowment was created and is funded by Congress. Thomson says this threatens their duty to protect American’s cultural legacy.
“And we believe that these are common interests. This isn’t about party, this is about productive economies, this is about productive citizens, this is about productive interests that will help Arizona grow and meet the demands of the future,” Thomson said.
But while in legal limbo she says her organization plans to keep AZ Reads and other essential programs going.
“We’re confident that the work that we do is valued by many, that it is not political one-upsmanship but it is the cultural legacy of the United States we are talking about,” Thomson said.
She says many Humanities councils including her organization are reaching out to their state’s attorneys general and other representation.
