“Wake Up Republicans!” You Too Are Affected by These Issues.  Is This What You Voted For?.

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Interior, Environment and Relateld Agencies Subcommittee, says the Trump Administration’s unprecedented and legally dubious grantmaking practices have called the integrity of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) into question.

In a letter to Acting NEH Chairman Michael McDonald, Pingree raised serious concerns about the deterioration of the agency following mass layoffs, the cancellation of numerous grant programs and the awarding of massive grants through questionable non-competitive processes.  Pingree also questioned McDonald’s frequent usage of the Chairman awards, including to individuals, which do not require council approval.

“I am deeply concerned by the rapid destruction of NEH,” Pingree wrote.  “It is imperative that the damage inflicted on this ageny be undone and that the integrity of NEH be rebuilt.  Communities across the country are relying on it.”

The problems at NEH began in April, when the Trump Administration implemented sweeping DOGE cuts that terminated previously awarded federal grants and laid off more than 65% of NEH employees. Biden-appointed NEH Chair Shelly Lowe was fired and Michael McDonald was installed as Acting Chairman. Since then, the agency’s ability to conduct its core mission has collapsed.

Pingree requested a meeting with McDonald and demanded answers to detailed questions about:    Current staffing levels and plans to rebuild capacity, a complete list of cancelled grant programs, application materials and justifications for the large grants to UVA and Tikvah, whether Council members were dismissed in retaliation and a list of all Chairman’s Awards and the procedure for selecting receipients

Pingree has given McDonald 30 days to respond.