H.R.82 - Defund National Endowment for the Humanities Act of 2025 (119th Congress)
Summary
H.R. 82, the "Defund National Endowment for the Humanities Act of 2025," seeks to prohibit the use of any funds made available to the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) for carrying out section 7 of the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965. The bill was introduced in the House of Representatives by Mr. Biggs of Arizona and referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce. The Act is set to take effect on the first day of the first fiscal year following its enactment.
The bill directly targets the NEH's funding for specific activities outlined in section 7 of the original 1965 Act. This section likely covers a significant portion of the NEH's grant-making and program activities. The bill's short title indicates its intent to defund the NEH by restricting its ability to use allocated funds for these activities.
Expected Effects
If enacted, H.R. 82 would significantly curtail the NEH's ability to fund humanities projects and programs as defined under section 7 of the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965. This would likely lead to a reduction or elimination of grants for research, education, preservation, and public programs in the humanities. The impact would be felt by cultural organizations, educational institutions, and individual scholars and artists who rely on NEH funding.
Potential Benefits
- Potentially reduces government spending, aligning with fiscal conservatism.
- Funds could be reallocated to other government programs deemed higher priority by Congress.
- May encourage private funding of humanities projects, reducing reliance on taxpayer dollars.
Most Benefited Areas:
Potential Disadvantages
- Reduces funding for humanities research, education, and preservation, potentially harming cultural and intellectual development.
- Could negatively impact cultural organizations and educational institutions that rely on NEH grants.
- May limit public access to humanities programs and resources.
- Could be seen as devaluing the importance of the humanities in American society.
- Potential job losses in the arts and humanities sectors.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill's constitutionality is primarily related to Congress's power of the purse, as outlined in Article I, Section 9, Clause 7 of the US Constitution, which states that "No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law." This clause grants Congress the authority to decide how federal funds are allocated and spent.
However, some might argue that significantly defunding the NEH could indirectly impact freedom of expression, potentially raising First Amendment concerns. However, this is a weaker argument, as the government is not directly censoring speech but rather choosing not to fund certain activities.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).