American Council of Learned Societies, American Historical Association, and Modern Language Association File Motion for a Preliminary Injunction of Dismantling of National Endowment for the Humanities
For Immediate Release / May 15, 2025 (New York, NY) — The American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS), the American Historical Association (AHA), and the Modern Language Association (MLA) filed a motion for a preliminary injunction yesterday to enjoin the unlawful dismantling of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).
On May 1, ACLS, AHA, and MLA filed a lawsuit in federal district court seeking to reverse the recent actions to decimate the NEH, including the elimination of grant programs, staff, and entire divisions and programs. The May 14 motion requesting the preliminary injunction argues that the actions to dismantle the NEH violate the constitutional separation of powers and the Impoundment Control Act, and that the Department of Government Efficiency has no legal authority to terminate another agency’s grants. Additionally, the planned diversion of NEH funds to the “Garden of Heroes” is illegal, as NEH policy has long prohibited funding the creation of art. Overall, the motion argues that “Congress believed NEH to be essential to the functioning of our democracy, and the public interest would be served by honoring that determination.”
In his declaration to the court, AHA executive director James Grossman wrote, “The overall dismantling of the NEH will have dire consequences for the American Historical Association and its more than 130 affiliates. The NEH does more than fund the work of the thousands of historians who belong to the AHA and these affiliated societies. The agency is, in essence, the convener of humanities disciplines. Because of its resources, the professionalism and intellect of its staff, and its prestige, the NEH regularly convenes representatives of scholarly associations, higher education institutions, state humanities councils, museums, and other organizations. We learn not only from NEH staff, but from one another in ways that are impossible through publications or even online.”
AHA staff are available to discuss the lawsuit. For interview requests, please contact press@historians.org.
Download the Motion Requesting Preliminary Injunction
Resources
For more information about the lawsuit, read our FAQs Regarding the Lawsuit Opposing the Dismantling of the NEH.
Read Joy Connolly’s (ACLS) Declaration
Read James Grossman’s (AHA) Declaration
Read Paula Krebs’s (MLA) Declaration
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Founded in 1884 and incorporated by Congress in 1889 for the promotion of historical studies, the American Historical Association provides leadership for the discipline and promotes the critical role of historical thinking in public life. The Association defends academic freedom, develops professional standards, supports innovative scholarship and teaching, and helps to sustain and enhance the work of historians. As the largest membership association of professional historians in the world (nearly 11,000 members), the AHA serves historians in a wide variety of professions and represents every historical era and geographical area. Learn more at historians.org.
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