Press Release: Delaware Humanities Pushes Forward after DOGE-Ordered Federal Funding Cuts Suspend Programs and Grants

April 22, 2025

Wilmington, DE – April 15, 2025 – Delaware Humanities, the nonprofit state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), received notice via email on the evening of April 2nd from Acting NEH Director Michael McDonald that federal funding from the NEH was terminated effective April 1, as ordered by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Delaware Humanities (DH) is one of 56 state and jurisdictional humanities councils across the United States that are currently being impacted by DOGE-ordered federal cuts. 

As a state humanities council, Delaware Humanities provides humanities programs and grants for communities in New Castle, Kent, and Sussex counties. The federal funding provided by the NEH makes up 85-90% of Delaware Humanities’ operations budget — 75% of which is put toward the organization’s programs and grantmaking. Delaware Humanities’ grants and programs support projects in museums, libraries, schools, historical societies, and cultural organizations throughout the state while bringing neighbors together for discussions and investing in literacy and critical thinking skills. 

Delaware Humanities is raising the alarm for the federal funding cuts in part because the NEH and its state humanities councils were created as an act of law, and as such are statutory entities. In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act into law which called for the creation of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). The creation of state humanities councils followed starting in 1971. 

“It is distressing that this approach to reducing federal spending has been taken because this abrupt termination — without even access to reimbursement of funds our organization expended in March — goes against legislation Congress enacted,” states Executive Director Michele Anstine, “It also prevents over $500,000 in federal funding this year to come into Delaware to be used for programs and grantmaking for Delawareans.” 

Delaware Humanities is currently assessing the effects of the cancellation of the NEH grant and has had to pause requests for new Speakers and Community Conversations programs and both Action/Innovation and Opportunity Grants. Previously approved requests for Speakers and Community Conversations programs will be able to take place, and funding for grants previously awarded will be honored.  

In response to the defunding, Delaware Humanities is partnering with local arts and humanities organizations similarly affected by the federal funding cuts. On April 10, Delaware Humanities joined the Delaware Division for the Arts and the Delaware Division of Libraries for “Policy Briefing: Threats to Federal Arts and Cultural Agencies”, a virtual forum held to inform the public about the DOGE-ordered cuts to the IMLS, NEH, and NEA, and the steps Delaware arts and humanities nonprofits are taking to push forward. A full recording of the briefing can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoqqsrDn-Bc

Along with community partnerships, Delaware Humanities is increasing its ongoing fundraising efforts. Interested donors are encouraged to make contributions online or by check. Donations can be made online at https://dehumanities.org/get-involved/donate/ Checks can be made payable to Delaware Humanities and sent to 100 W 10th St #509, Wilmington, DE 19801.

Founded in 1973, Delaware Humanities is Delaware’s independent, nonprofit affiliate of the 0National Endowment for the Humanities. We provide services and resources to organizations for humanities-based projects and events in Delaware. We work to strengthen our communities by connecting Delawareans through the diversity of human experiences.  For more information, please visit our website at https://dehumanities.org. 

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