Critique by Nicholas Hartlep: budget reductions in humanities support could undermine the spiritual core of the Commonwealth
In a recent development, the House Appropriations Committee has proposed a 35% budget cut to the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), potentially jeopardising the future of Kentucky's cultural, educational, and civic landscape.
This severe reduction would reduce the NEH's funding from $207 million to $135 million for FY26, following previous actions by the Trump administration that included mass grant cancellations, staff reductions, and attempts to eliminate or restrict the NEH's activities, particularly those relating to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
The potential impact of these cuts on Kentucky is significant.
Cultural Impact
NEH grants support museums, historic preservation, public humanities programs, and arts organisations across the state. Deep cuts threaten these institutions' ability to maintain programming, exhibitions, and educational outreach that are vital to Kentucky's cultural landscape.
Educational Impact
The NEH funds academic research and humanities education projects at colleges and universities in Kentucky. Grant cancellations and staff reductions jeopardise these projects, limiting resources for humanities scholarship, curriculum development, and public education programs.
Civic Vitality
Humanities initiatives often facilitate community engagement, civic dialogue, and critical examination of history and identity – roles that are at risk with the budget slashes and politically motivated grant cancellations targeting topics like race, gender, and environmental justice.
In response, a federal judge has blocked NEH’s cancellation of $175 million in grants tied to diversity, equity, and inclusion work, temporarily preserving some funding for these vital programs. However, ongoing political and funding uncertainty continues to threaten the agency’s capacity to support communities nationwide, including those in Kentucky.
Kentucky may face increased pressure to compensate for federal shortfalls through state and local funding to sustain its cultural and educational institutions, a trend seen in some states nationwide following federal cutbacks.
Dr. Nicholas D. Hartlep, the Robert Charles Billings Chair in Education at Berea College and a Kentucky Humanities board member, considers the decision to join Kentucky Humanities one of the most consequential in public service. He urges Governor Andy Beshear, Senators Rand Paul and Mitch McConnell, and Kentucky's congressional delegation to stand up for NEH funding.
The speaker emphasises the importance of continuing to tell Kentucky's stories and sustaining 53 years of vital work supported by the NEH. These initiatives are not considered luxuries, but essential investments in community, identity, and democracy. Cutting funding would be a death blow to organisations like Kentucky Humanities.
The NEH has been a lifeline for Kentucky's cultural, educational, and civic vitality since 1972. NEH funding is channeled through state partners like Kentucky Humanities and supports various initiatives across the Commonwealth, including local oral history projects, performances like Kentucky Chautauqua, and book discussion series for veterans.
The soul of the state would be weakened by weakening the humanities. The speaker urges against letting the weakening of the humanities happen. The speaker had not heard much about Kentucky Humanities at the time of joining, but the call from Kathleen Pool, Associate Director of Kentucky Humanities, while flying to a national education conference, changed his perspective.
- The significant budget cut proposed for the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) could potentially impact the educational and cultural lifestyle of the community in Kentucky, as NEH grants support various initiatives that are vital to the state's cultural landscape.
- As the NEH funds academic research and humanities education projects at colleges and universities in Kentucky, reduction in funding could limit resources for humanities scholarship, curriculum development, and public education programs, thus affecting the education-and-self-development sector.
- The politically motivated grant cancellations aimed at diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives may lead to a reduction in community engagement, civic dialogue, and critical examination of history and identity, which are crucial aspects of civic vitality.
- The speaker underlines the importance of continuing to tell Kentucky's stories, emphasizing that NEH funding is an essential investment in community, identity, and democracy. Weakening the humanities would be detrimental to organizations like Kentucky Humanities, and it should be avoided.
- NEH funding has supported various initiatives across Kentucky since 1972, including local oral history projects, performances, and book discussion series. It serves as a lifeline for the cultural, educational, and civic vitality of the state, making it important to maintain and protect this crucial funding source.
