Sponsors (2)
The bill reduces federal spending by eliminating certain NEH-funded humanities activities, but does so at the expense of public humanities programming, federal support for nonprofits and educational institutions, and NEH’s programmatic flexibility—shifting costs and responsibilities to state, local, and private actors.
Federal taxpayers may see lower federal spending because NEH would no longer fund the activities eliminated by section 7.
Nonprofits, schools, and universities may be pushed to seek alternative private or local support for humanities activities previously funded by NEH, potentially prompting new local partnerships or private funding streams.
Students, families, and the general public could lose access to cultural and educational humanities programming if NEH support for those activities is eliminated.
Nonprofits and educational institutions that relied on NEH grants would lose a federal funding source for humanities projects, reducing their capacity to run programs and conduct research.
Costs for humanities activities would shift from the federal government to state and local governments or private funders, increasing financial pressure on those entities and possibly reducing overall funding availability.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Prohibits NEH from using any of its annual funds to carry out activities authorized by 20 U.S.C. § 956 (section 7 of the 1965 Act).
Official title: To provide that none of the funds made available to the National Endowment for the Humanities for any fiscal year may be used to carry out section 7 of the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965.
Introduced January 3, 2025 by Andrew S. Biggs · Last progress January 3, 2025
Prohibits the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) from using any of its annual funds to carry out the activities authorized by section 7 of the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. § 956). The ban applies to NEH funds for any fiscal year and takes effect at the start of the first fiscal year after enactment. The bill does not appropriate new funds or create alternative programs; it only forbids NEH from spending money on the specified statutory authority.