Humanities funding cuts by DOGE will ‘decimate’ service to Utah communities, nonprofit says

Editor’s Note: This article corrects a previously misstated dollar amount given to the NEH from 2019 to 2023. 

SALT LAKE CITY — A local nonprofit, Utah Humanities, on Tuesday detailed some recent cuts made by the Department of Government Efficiency, which it said were large hits to the program that will “decimate” its ability to serve Utah communities.

On April 2, the National Endowment for the Humanities made cuts to at least 1,200 grants in the U.S. that supported culture and history programs, according to reporting by the Washington Post. Further reporting by the New York Times showed roughly 70 to 80% of the NEH staff had been cut the day prior.

In the following days, the remaining NEH staff worked to identify the impact.

There had been 37 grants issued to Utah organizations in recent years that were impacted, NEH said, totaling $9,694,094 in support from 2019 to 2023. Some grants were specific, being sent to organizations to accomplish goals in preserving arts, history and culture.

It highlighted some significant accomplishments of the grants since 2019:

• The University of Utah improved its access to the Rare Books Collection and the Fine Arts Library by enhancing catalog records.
• Southern Utah Museum of Art (on the campus of Southern Utah University) built custom art racks to allow its artwork catalog to be more securely stored and increased its access to locals.

Further, NEH provided annual funding to Utah Humanities, which the program called “essential to our cultural infrastructure.”

Utah Humanities said the funding will specifically cut Utahns’ access to “vital” support for students who’d like to attend college, training and resources to museums and historical societies and statewide literature programming, among many others.

Utah Humanities director Jodi Graham said the federal funds were appropriated by Congress “with the intent that we use them to directly serve the communities in our state.”

“The humanities equip us with the tools to think critically, engage thoughtfully, and approach one another with respect and understanding. They remind us that being human is a non-partisan activity – it’s a shared experience, even in times of discord,” she said. “Investing in the humanities is an investment in democracy itself.”

The program urged those in the community who are affected closely by the changes to contact their respective senators and representatives to share their stories.

“By understanding our past, we shape a better future. When we engage with literature and philosophy, we strengthen our ability to listen, reflect, and connect. By telling our stories, we remember that we are part of something greater than ourselves,” Graham said. “Our world needs these things now more than ever.”