Plaintiffs Have Filed An Appeal to Judge’s Decision Dismissing Core Claims in Their Lawsuit
For Immediate Release / August 6, 2025 (New York, NY) — The American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS), the American Historical Association (AHA), and the Modern Language Association (MLA) commend Judge Colleen McMahon’s decision for the Authors Guild, which ensures that funds for terminated National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) grants can not be reallocated while the case is being tried.
The plaintiffs are encouraged that the judge rejected the government’s motion to dismiss their claim that DOGE was responsible for the terminations and their First Amendment claims. They have also filed an appeal to the judge’s dismissal of their request for a preliminary injunction. The ACLS, AHA, and MLA are committed to moving forward with the case and remain steadfast in their efforts to stop the unlawful dismantling of the NEH.
Established in 1965, the NEH has been a cornerstone investor in the advancement and accessibility of humanities knowledge and programs, providing funding to museums, historic sites, colleges, universities, libraries, public television and radio stations, research institutions, scholars, and programs. Funded programs benefit millions of Americans and local communities in every state.
The ACLS, AHA, and MLA filed a lawsuit on May 1, 2025, seeking to reverse the recent actions to devastate the NEH, including the elimination of grant programs, staff, and entire divisions and programs. Following the July 25, 2025 decision, the ACLS, AHA, and MLA will continue to press the argument—in court, with Congress, and with the public—that the NEH remains a critical agency for American democracy, history, literature, languages, philosophy, politics, society, and culture.
Over the past 60 years, the NEH has awarded over 70,000 grants to museums, historic sites, colleges, universities, K–12 teaching, libraries, public television and radio stations, research institutions, independent scholars, and to its humanities council affiliates.
The NEH’s investment in cultural and educational institutions sustains local jobs in the humanities, promotes cultural tourism, and contributes to the creative economy. NEH grants support the building blocks of American civil society, funding projects that examine, preserve, and shape our culture and history. These grants fund excellence in research, education, and humanities experiences for the American people. In times of crisis, the NEH provides relief funding to humanities organizations to safeguard our national heritage.
“Since April, we have seen the devastating impact the cancellation of this funding has made on scholars, students, state humanities councils, and communities around the country,” said ACLS President Joy Connolly. “We remain staunch in our commitment to supporting humanistic scholars and their academic freedom, and we will continue to pursue all legal options available to us, including this latest appeal of the July 25 ruling.”
“The NEH is vital to the American public’s engagement with the vibrant landscape of humanities education and research,” said AHA executive director Sarah Weicksel. “We remain committed to pursuing all legal options to ensure that the work of the NEH and its staff continues to connect Americans with the history and culture that is so central to civic engagement.”
“Since its founding, the NEH has had bipartisan support; legislators have understood that its work benefits all Americans—strengthening our communities, supporting cultural understanding, and promoting an informed democracy,” said MLA executive director Paula M. Krebs. “We will continue to fight for the NEH’s vital work.”
The plaintiffs, represented by the Jacobson Lawyers Group, are associations represented on the National Humanities Alliance executive committee. The Phi Beta Kappa Society is also contributing to this effort.
More information about the lawsuit is available online, including the July 25 decision; the full complaint; Frequently Asked Questions; and declarations by Dr. Connolly, Dr. James Grossman (AHA), and Dr. Krebs.
About the American Council of Learned Societies
Formed a century ago, the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) is a nonprofit federation of 81 scholarly organizations. As the leading representative of American scholarship in the humanities and interpretive social sciences, ACLS upholds the core principle that knowledge is a public good. In supporting its member organizations, ACLS expands the forms, content, and flow of scholarly knowledge, reflecting its commitment to diversity of identity and experience. ACLS collaborates with institutions, associations, and individuals to strengthen the evolving infrastructure for scholarship.
About the American Historical Association
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.
About the Modern Language Association
The Modern Language Association of America and its 20,000 members work to strengthen the study and teaching of languages and literature. Founded in 1883, the MLA provides opportunities for its members to share their scholarly findings and teaching experiences with colleagues and to discuss trends in the academy. The MLA sustains a wide-ranging print and electronic publishing program that includes books, journals, style guides, and an international bibliography. More information on MLA programs is available at www.mla.org.
Media Contacts:
Heather Mangrum, ACLS Chief Communications Officer, hmangrum@acls.org
Alexandra Levy, AHA Director of Communications & Public Affairs, alevy@historians.org
Anna Chang, MLA Director of Outreach, achang@mla.org
For interview requests, please contact hmangrum@acls.org (ACLS), press@historians.org (AHA), and press@mla.org (MLA).