“In America, the Law is King” Was a Powerful Message at the October 18 2025 NO KINGS Rally in Portland.

Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Subcommittee Chelllie Pingree (D-ME) and Co-chair of the Congressional Humanities Caucus Congresswoman Dina Titus (D-NV) led a group of lawmakers expressing concerns to President Donald Trump and Acting Chairman for the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) William English regarding NEH funds being unlawflly redirected toward the construction of a Trumphal Arch according to a press release issued by Congresswoman Pingree’s office this morning.

“A construction  project of this nature, especially one previously described by President Trump as privately funded, falls well outside the intended use of NEH program funding.  Allocating funds to a project that has no legal basis to proceed is an abuse of taxpayer dollars,” wrote a group of lawmakers who joined Pingree and Titus in demanding the Adminisration cease funding for this unauthorized project, provide clarity on the use of NEH funds and promptly disribute appopriated funding to humanities councils and other intended recipients.

“At the same time, museums, libraries, and local organizations nationwide wait for funding that Congress has already approved.  NEH has yet to distribute appropriated funding for state and jurisdictional humanities councils, leaving these organizations in limbo halfway through the fiscal year.  These institutions form the backbone of American civic and cultural life; redirecting their funding to a project that neither aligns with NEH’s mission nor reflects congressional intent risks real and immediate harm to communities nationwide,” the lawmakers continued.

Despite previous claims that President Trump would only use private donations to fund his Triumphal Arch, the National Endowment for Humanities released its FY 26 plan earlier this month including $15 million for this project despite the absence of congressional authorization required under the CWA.

This is happening while humanities councils are experiencing an unprecedented funding crisis.  Although Congress mainained the $65 million appropriations for councils in the recently passed funding bill, funds have not yet been released.  As a result, councils across the country have endured layoffs, frozen grant programs and scaled back urgent community initiatives, including preparations for the upcoming 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.  Instead of using funding as Congress intended, the Administration is using taxpayer dollars for a self-righteous project that lacks clear legal authority, while undermining the cultural and civic institutions that serve communities throughout the nation.