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HR 82119th CongressIn Committee

Defund National Endowment for the Humanities Act of 2025

Introduced: Jan 3, 2025
Standard Summary
Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

Defund National Endowment for the Humanities Act of 2025 would prohibit the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) from using any of its funds in a given fiscal year to carry out section 7 of the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965. In effect, the bill targets a specific portion of the law that governs NEH (and related activities under the broader Foundation) and blocks funding tied to that particular provision. The bill does not specify new funding for other NEH activities; instead, it restricts how NEH funds may be used with respect to the referenced section. It would take effect at the start of the first fiscal year that begins after enactment. Note: The exact impact depends on what Section 7 of the 1965 Act authorizes. The bill excerpt does not include Section 7’s text, so the concrete programs or activities that would be affected are determined by that underlying provision.

Key Points

  • 1Prohibits using any funds made available to NEH to carry out Section 7 of the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 956).
  • 2Applies to funds in any fiscal year, effectively limiting NEH’s activities tied to Section 7 across future years.
  • 3Effective date: the first day of the first fiscal year that begins after the enactment date.
  • 4Short title: “Defund National Endowment for the Humanities Act of 2025.”
  • 5Status and process: Introduced in the House by Mr. Biggs (R-AZ) on January 3, 2025; referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce. No Senate action indicated in the provided text.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected: National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), including its leadership, staff, and any program offices or grant activities specifically authorized by Section 7; organizations and individuals applying for or receiving funds under that section.Secondary group/area affected: Universities, museums, libraries, and other institutions that would typically rely on NEH funding for Section 7 programs; researchers and public humanities programs tied to that provision.Additional impacts: Potential reduction or alteration of programs, fellowships, or partnerships funded via Section 7; possible downstream effects on public humanities projects, educational initiatives, and local cultural institutions depending on how critical Section 7 activities are to NEH’s portfolio. Policy debates could include questions about appropriations, agency discretion, and the role of federal support for humanities programs.
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