Carson City, NV — Nevada Attorney General Aaron D. Ford has joined a coalition of states in a legal effort to challenge the Trump administration’s decision to cut federal support for public humanities programs. The coalition filed an amicus brief supporting a lawsuit against the National Endowment for the Humanities’ (NEH) cancellation of funding for state humanities programs.
“This is not just an unconstitutional and unlawful overreach of federal power; it is an attack on civic life that strengthens our communities and our democracy,” said AG Ford. “I stand with my colleagues in defending these critical areas of society, ensuring that Nevadans continue to have access to the humanities, which are essential for fostering an engaged public and thriving society.”
The NEH’s “Fed/State Partnership” program, funded annually since 1972, was created by Congress to provide every state with access to community-based humanities programming. However, earlier this year, the NEH significantly reduced support for state humanities councils, leading to program cancellations and staff furloughs.
The executive director of Nevada Humanities told the Reno Gazette-Journal in April that the council is “fighting for its survival” due to federal funding cuts.
A hearing on the motion for preliminary injunction is set for August 4 at 9 a.m. at the federal courthouse in Portland, Oregon.
AG Ford joins attorneys general from Maryland, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Wisconsin and Vermont in filing this amicus brief.
