Archive · 7 Aug 2025
Judge Halts Trump Admin's Humanities Grant Cancellation
A judge has temporarily stopped the government from canceling money for humanities programs.
The government had decided to stop funding these programs.
The judge, who was appointed by a previous president, said that stopping the money might be against the rules.
He said the government didn't follow what Congress, the group that makes laws, wanted.
The judge said that canceling these programs would cause harm that couldn't be fixed.
He also stopped the government from spending or giving away the money for these programs.
This means the government has to wait before it can cancel the funding.
Federal judge temporarily blocked the cancellation of humanities grants.
The judge, an Obama appointee, cited potential unconstitutionality.
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) had canceled grants.
The cuts were part of President Trump's cost-cutting efforts.
Plaintiffs, including the Oregon Council for the Humanities, sued to reverse cuts.
- Who
- Federal judge Michael H. Simon
- What
- Temporary injunction against cancellation of humanities grants
- When
- In April and later, Wednesday
- Where
- Oregon
- Why
- Judge found the cancellations likely unconstitutional
Plaintiffs
Defendants
Legality of Cancellation
Plaintiffs
Grant cancellations are unconstitutional.
Defendants
The government has the power to cancel the grants.
- Judge
- Michael H. Simon
- Injunction Action
- Temporary stay on grant cancellations
- Affected Grants
- National Endowment for the Humanities
- Plaintiff
- Federation of State Humanities Councils and the Oregon Council for the Humanities
- Defendant
- The Department of Government Efficiency and the National Endowment for the Humanities