Since April, the AHA has worked to combat broad-ranging federal efforts to censor and defund history and state legislatures’ efforts to reshape education.
The Association released statements condemning the targeting of foreign scholars through immigration enforcement as well as the removal of books from the US Naval Academy’s library and signed on to a letter from the Coalition for International Education urging lawmakers to protect funding for federal international education and foreign language study programs. Following the abrupt dismissal of all members of the State Department’s Advisory Committee on Historical Diplomatic Documentation (HAC), the AHA sent a letter to the department seeking clarification on the impact on the HAC’s statutory authority.
Addressing the impact of the dismantling of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) remains a priority. This effort is anchored by a lawsuit brought by the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS), the AHA, and the Modern Language Association (MLA) seeking to reverse recent actions to devastate the NEH, including the elimination of grant programs, staff, and entire divisions and programs. The AHA has also issued or signed on to statements condemning the attempt to shutter the agency permanently.
At the state level, the AHA sent letters to the Alabama and Texas legislatures regarding bills that would require the text of the Ten Commandments to be displayed on the walls of public school classrooms. Texas legislators received an additional letter, urging them to oppose a bill that would place curricular control with university governing boards over instructors. AHA staff member Julia Brookins testified against this bill before the Texas House Committee on Higher Education. The AHA also sent an action alert to Oklahomans asking them to call on their state legislators to oppose the state’s new social studies education standards.
AHA’s Defense of the National Endowment for the Humanities
The AHA released a statement on April 4 condemning the evisceration of the NEH, during which the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) terminated more than 1,400 grants and placed 75 percent of staff on leave.
The AHA signed on to the National Humanities Alliance’s statement opposing DOGE’s threats to cut the funding and staff of the NEH. “Cutting NEH funding directly harms communities in every state and contributes to the destruction of our shared cultural heritage,” the statement reads. “Cutting NEH staff who bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to their positions guts the NEH itself.”
On April 30, the AHA with the Association for Computers and the Humanities and the MLA convened an Information Exchange webinar about the NEH appeal process for scholars whose grants had been abruptly terminated.
On May 1, the ACLS, AHA, and MLA filed a lawsuit in federal district court, seeking to reverse actions including the elimination of NEH grant programs, staff, and entire divisions and programs. On July 25, the court denied our motion for a preliminary injunction, while granting a preliminary injunction for the Authors Guild, which ensures that funds for terminated NEH grants cannot be reallocated while the case is being tried. We are encouraged that the judge rejected the government’s motion to dismiss our claim that DOGE was responsible for the terminations and our First Amendment claims. While it is disappointing that our request for a preliminary injunction was not granted and that some claims in our suit have been dismissed, we have appealed the decision, continue with the case, and remain steadfast in our efforts.
AHA Condemns Targeting of Foreign Scholars
On April 21, the AHA released a statement condemning the administration’s immigration policies and practices, which “threaten the vitality of historical work through the targeting of international scholars for increased scrutiny and legal action.” The statement goes on: “We deplore the atmosphere of fear and repression created by the harassment of foreign-born students and scholars by government agencies.” As of July 31, 32 organizations have signed on to this statement.
AHA Opposes Requirements to Display Ten Commandments
On April 24, the AHA sent a letter to members of the Alabama State Senate opposing SB 166/HB 178, which would require Alabama public schools to display the Ten Commandments in US history classrooms. This legislation would “promote an oversimplified account of the American founding that does considerable disservice to the rich and compelling history of religion in our country,” the letter states. “The lawyers’ fees sure to result from passage of this bill would be much better invested in instructional materials and professional development opportunities for history and social studies educators.” As of July, the bill is indefinitely postponed in the state senate.
On May 14, the AHA sent a letter opposing Texas Senate Bill 10, which would require classrooms to display the Ten Commandments. “SB 10 serves no clear educational purpose,” wrote the AHA. “The lawyers’ fees sure to result from passage of this bill would be much better invested in instructional materials and professional development opportunities for history and social studies educators across the state.” The bill passed the state legislature on May 28 and was signed by the governor on June 21.
AHA Opposes Texas SB 37 in Letter and Testimony
On May 2, the AHA sent a letter to members of the Texas House Committee on Higher Education opposing the engrossed version of Senate Bill 37 as it has been received in the House of Representatives. The bill takes authority to control curriculum and instruction from Texas university professors and places it with governing boards.
On May 6, Julia Brookins, AHA senior program analyst, teaching and learning, testified before the Texas House Committee on Higher Education. “This bill places politics before the educational needs of students,” Brookins stated, “undermining the affordability, quality, and integrity of general education requirements in Texas.”
AHA Sends Letter Regarding Abrupt Dismissal of State Department Historical Advisory Committee
On May 12, the AHA sent a letter to Ambassador Maria Brewer, acting director of the State Department’s Foreign Service Institute, regarding the abrupt dismissal of the members of the Advisory Committee on Historical Diplomatic Documentation of the State Department, including the AHA’s representative on the committee. We have since been notified that the committee will be reconstituted, according to statute.
AHA Statement on Military Libraries, Censorship, and History
On May 19, the AHA released a statement condemning “the removal of 381 books, including acclaimed historical works and widely used primary sources, from the United States Naval Academy’s Nimitz Library,” as well as “what appears to be the expansion of this censorship policy to the full universe of military academies and other education institutions.” “Removing books that are based on careful historical research won’t make the facts of our nation’s history go away,” the statement reads. “But it will render the military unprepared to face their legacies and our future.” As of July 31, 13 organizations have signed on to this statement.
AHA Sends Letter Opposing Texas Bill to Eliminate History Education Requirements
On May 22, the AHA sent a letter to the Texas Senate Committee on Education K–16 objecting to provisions in the engrossed version of House Bill 4 that “would eliminate existing requirements for state assessments in both US history and social studies, removing any incentive for schools and districts to invest in these foundational subjects.” “All students deserve the right to learn history; all communities benefit from historically literate citizens,” the letter states. “The educational consequences of eliminating the end-of-course assessment in US history would not end with high school graduation.”
AHA Signs On to CIE Letter Urging Protection of Title VI Programs in FY26
On July 16, the AHA signed on to a letter from the Coalition for International Education (CIE) urging lawmakers to protect and fund HEA–Title VI International Education and Foreign Language Studies programs in FY 2026, including Fulbright–Hays programs. “The Administration’s budget claim that these programs ‘do not advance American interests or values’ and are not a federal responsibility is mistaken,” the letter states. “Defunding these programs would deal a severe blow to the pipeline of globally competent professionals, undercutting the ability of American institutions to compete on the world stage.”
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