Federal Funding Cut Halts Michigan Humanities Programs and Grants

Federal Funding Cut Leaves Michigan Humanities Programs in Limbo

The landscape of humanities programs in Michigan faces significant challenges as a major source of funding has been unexpectedly withdrawn. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has announced the termination of federal funding for Michigan’s state humanities council, Michigan Humanities.

According to a “Notice of Grant Termination” addressed to Michigan Humanities, the funding was halted because the grant “no longer effectuates the agency’s needs and priorities and conditions of the Grant Agreement.” The notice further stated that the immediate termination was necessary “to safeguard the interests of the federal government, including its fiscal priorities.”

This decision affects a substantial grant of $900,000 from the National Endowment for the Humanities that Michigan Humanities was set to receive. As a result, Jennifer Rupp, the president and CEO of Michigan Humanities, has announced the suspension of all grant opportunities and programs statewide.

“This recission and termination literally grinds Michigan humanities to a halt,” Rupp remarked, highlighting the profound impact this will have on over 300 organizations across Michigan. The organization is now in search of alternate grant funding to sustain its initiatives.

Since 2020, Michigan Humanities has distributed more than 1,100 grants supporting public humanities projects across all 83 counties, reaching over 11 million people. Their flagship program, the Great Michigan Read, engages more than 30,000 individuals annually with a single book, offering over 100,000 free books and resources to state residents over nearly two decades.