Plaintiffs, the Oregon Council for the Humanities and the Federation of State Humanities Councils, filed suit against the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), and the National Council on the Humanities. Plaintiffs challenge the abrupt termination and disruption of federal funding supporting state and local humanities programs nationwide. These programs, funded through the congressionally mandated Federal/State Partnership, provide grants to local communities for programs that preserve history, culture, and public humanities initiatives. Plaintiffs claim that defendants terminated or partially rescinded nearly all previously approved NEH grants without statutory authority, notice, or an opportunity to be heard, in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), the Impoundment Control Act, and the constitutional principle of Separation of Powers. These actions allegedly forced councils to lay off staff, cancel programs, and place several organizations at risk of permanent closure. Plaintiffs contend that the terminations were arbitrary, capricious, and contrary to statutory criteria governing NEH grants. Plaintiffs seek declaratory and injunctive relief to preserve the Federal/State Partnership, including requiring NEH to continue funding the councils as appropriated by Congress and to follow statutory procedures when making grant determinations.
