AHA Speaks Out
Tracking Federal Actions Affecting History
The AHA is tracking information on federal actions and their impact on history and education.
Why History Matters
History informs our understanding of everything, and historians' voices are essential in conversations about current events.
“Only historians and trained museum professionals are qualified to conduct such a review, which is intended to ensure historical accuracy. To suggest otherwise is an affront to the professional integrity of curators, historians, educators and everyone involved in the creation of solid, evidence-based content.”
~Sarah Weicksel (AHA) in The New York Times on the Trump administration’s announcement of a “sweeping review” of the Smithsonian to “ensure alignment” with the administration’s goals, August 2025.
"The NEH is vital to the American public’s engagement with the vibrant landscape of humanities education and research. 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."
~Sarah Weicksel (AHA), July 2025
Support the AHA
The American Historical Association provides leadership for the discipline, defends academic freedom, and promotes the critical role of historical thinking in public life. The AHA, in collaboration with our colleagues at the American Council of Learned Societies and the Modern Language Association, have filed a lawsuit in response to the illegal dismantling of the National Endowment for the Humanities. We need your support for this and our ongoing advocacy efforts at the federal and state levels. Please join join or donate today.
AHA Members in the Media
Submit Your Op-Ed
AHA members: The AHA welcomes submissions of op-eds, media appearances, or other resources that offer context and insight to the public on the recent actions by the federal government. Submissions should specifically address federal actions that pertain to history, the work of historians, and historical thinking in public life.
Other Resources & Initiatives
Resources for Federal Historians
The AHA supports historians employed by the federal government. We appreciate the important work they do every day to preserve, chronicle, and interpret American history. The AHA recognizes that our colleagues in the federal government are facing unprecedented workforce reductions and has compiled resources in support, and are offering one year of free membership in the AHA to former employees of the federal government who have been terminated or resigned since January 20.
AHA Resources
Speak Up: Op-Ed Writing as Activism
In Perspectives on History (April 2025), senior managing editor Laura Ansley encourages historians to respond to government policies through op-eds. "More than ever, we need smart, knowledgeable, skilled communicators to explain what is happening at the federal, state, and local levels."
Op-Ed Writing for Historians: How to Pitch, Write, Revise, and Get Your Ideas to the Public
Writing short articles for the general public is an important skill in the historian’s toolkit. A panel of experienced editors and writers discussed how to pitch and write op-eds meant for a general audience, as well as what to expect from the editorial process.