National Endowment for the Humanities
The National Endowment for the Humanities is an independent federal agency of the U.S. government, established by the , dedicated to supporting research, education, preservation, and public programs in the humanities. The NEH is housed in the Constitution Center at 400 7th St SW, Washington, D.C. From 1979 to 2014, NEH was at 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C., in the Nancy Hanks Center at the Old Post Office.
History and purpose
The NEH provides grants for high-quality humanities projects to cultural institutions such as museums, archives, libraries, colleges, universities, public television, and radio stations, and to individual scholars. According to its mission statement: "Because democracy demands wisdom, NEH serves and strengthens our republic by promoting excellence in the humanities and conveying the lessons of history to all Americans."The NEH was created in 1965 as a sub-agency of the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities, which today also includes the National Endowment for the Arts, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and the Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities. NEH was based upon recommendation of the National Commission on the Humanities, convened in 1963 with representatives from three US scholarly and educational associations, the Phi Beta Kappa Society, the American Council of Learned Societies, and the Council of Graduate Schools.
The agencies stated purpose is to create incentives for excellent work in the humanities by:
As part of its mandate to support humanities programs in every US state and territory, the agency supports a network of private, nonprofit affiliates, the 56 humanities councils in the states and territories of the United States.
- awarding grants that strengthen teaching and learning in the humanities in schools and colleges
- facilitate research and original scholarship
- provide opportunities for lifelong learning
- preserve and provide access to cultural and educational resources
- strengthen the institutional base of the humanities.
As of April 1, 2025, the agency was reportedly asked by the Department of Government Efficiency to reduce their staffing by up to 80%. At least 1,200 Biden-era grants were cancelled the following week, including funding to state and jurisdictional humanities councils and a large percentage of staff put on administrative leave.
Jim Leach's tenure as NEH chair (2009–2013)
The ninth NEH chair was Jim Leach. President Obama nominated the former Iowa congressman, a Republican, to chair the NEH on June 3, 2009; the Senate confirmed his appointment in August 2009. Leach began his term as the NEH chair on August 12, 2009, and stepped down in May 2013. Between November 2009 and May 2011, Leach conducted the American "Civility Tour" to call attention to the need to restore reason and civility back into politics, a goal that in his words was "central to the humanities." Leach visited each of the 50 states, speaking at venues ranging from university and museum lecture halls to hospitals for veterans, to support the return of non-emotive, civil exchange and rational consideration of other viewpoints. According to Leach, "Little is more important...than establishing an ethos of thoughtfulness and decency of expression in the public square. Words reflect emotion as well as meaning. They clarify—or cloud—thought and energize action, sometimes bringing out the better angels in our nature, sometimes lesser instincts."William Adams' tenure as NEH chair (2014–2017)
The tenth chair of the NEH was William Adams, who served from 2014 to 2017. President Obama nominated Adams on April 4, 2014; Adams was confirmed by the Senate in a voice vote on July 9, 2014. Adams appointed Margaret Plympton as the deputy NEH chair in January 2015.Before Adams's appointment, the NEH was headed by Acting Chair Carole M. Watson. Adams resigned his appointment on May 23, 2017, when he cited accomplishments under the "Common Good" initiative and the appointment of new administration officials.
Jon Parrish Peede's tenure as NEH Chair (2018–2022)
Appointed under Donald Trump, from 2018 to 2022, Jon Parrish Peede served as Chair of the NEH. On February 10, 2020, the NEH was presented by the Trump administration with a FY2021 budget that included a planned dissolution of the agency.Shelly Lowe's tenure as NEH Chair (2022–2025)
Plans to close the agency were halted under the Biden administration and the NEH continues to operate and provides funding for various projects. In 2022, Shelly Lowe was confirmed as the chairman of the NEH. She is the first Native American to lead the agency. Congress appropriated US$180 million for the NEH in FY2022, and US$207 million in 2023.Lowe resigned from her position in March 2025. A spokesman for the agency said Lowe left "at the direction of President Trump". Michael McDonald, the NEH's general counsel, is serving as acting chairman as of March 12, 2025.
Leadership and initiatives
Governance
The Endowment is directed by the NEH chair. Advising the chair is the National Council on the Humanities, a board of 26 distinguished private citizens who are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. The National Council members serve staggered six-year terms.The NEH chair
The Endowment is directed by a chair, who has legal authority to approve all recommendations and award grants and cooperative agreements. The chair is nominated by the president and confirmed with the advice and consent of the U.S. Senate. The chair's decisions are informed by recommendations from the National Council on the Humanities, peer-reviewers who are selected to read each project proposal submitted to the Endowment, as well as by the Endowment's staff.National Council on the Humanities
The council is composed of 27 members, 26 appointed by the president of the United States with the consent of the United States Senate and the chairperson of the NEH, who also serves as chair of the council. The twenty-six appointed by the President are selected from among private citizens of the United States who are recognized for their broad knowledge of, expertise in, or commitment to the humanities, and have established records of distinguished service and scholarship or creativity and in a manner which will provide a comprehensive representation of the views of scholars and professional practitioners in the humanities and of the public throughout the United States. In making these appointments, the President shall give due regard to equitable representation of women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities who are involved in the humanities, and may give consideration to such recommendations as may from time to time be submitted to him by leading national organizations concerned with the humanities.These are appointed to serve terms of six years. The terms are staggered so a number of terms end January 26 every other year. The members are not eligible for reappointment during the two-year period following the expiration of their term. However, they may continue to serve on the council after their term's expiration until a successor takes office. Fourteen members of the council constitutes a quorum.
Current council members
The current council members as of 2024:| Position | Name | Assumed office | Term expiration | Appointed by |
| Acting Chair | Joe Biden | |||
| Member | Donald Trump | |||
| Member | Joe Biden | |||
| Member | Barack Obama | |||
| Member | Donald Trump | |||
| Member | Barack Obama | |||
| Member | Donald Trump | |||
| Member | Barack Obama | |||
| Member | Joe Biden | |||
| Member | Donald Trump | |||
| Member | Joe Biden | |||
| Member | Donald Trump | |||
| Member | Joe Biden | |||
| Member | Joe Biden | |||
| Member | Joe Biden | |||
| Member | Barack Obama | |||
| Member | Joe Biden | |||
| Member | Donald Trump | |||
| Member | Joe Biden | |||
| Member | Joe Biden | |||
| Member | Donald Trump | |||
| Member | Barack Obama | |||
| Member | Joe Biden | |||
| Member | Joe Biden | |||
| Member | Barack Obama | |||
| Member | Vacant | |||
| Member | Vacant |
Nominations
President Biden has nominated the following to fill seats on the commission. They await Senate confirmation.| Name | Term expires | Replacing |
Major program offices
The NEH has six grant-making divisions and offices:- The Division of Preservation and Access awards grants to preserve, maintain, and improve access to primary sources in the humanities, in both digital and analog form.
- The Division of Public Programs supports projects that bring the humanities to large audiences through libraries and museums, television and radio, historic sites, and digital media.
- The Division of Research makes awards to support the publication of books in and outside the humanities.
- The Division of Education works to support and strengthen teaching of the humanities.
- The Office of Federal/State Partnership collaborates with 56 state and territory humanities councils to strengthen local programs.
- The Office of Digital Humanities advises on use of technology in the humanities and coordinates, and was established in 2008.