Fired Scholars and Big Grants to Favored Projects: Inside Trump’s N.E.H.

The National Endowment for the Humanities (N.E.H.), a federal agency supporting research, education, and cultural preservation, became a political battleground under Donald Trump’s presidency. Leaked documents and insider accounts expose abrupt dismissals, politicized grants, and a shift toward conservative-aligned projects—raising concerns about the erosion of academic independence.

Purge of Career Staff and Scholars

In 2017, shortly after Trump took office, senior N.E.H. officials and scholars were abruptly dismissed. Among them was Dr. William Adams, the Obama-appointed chairman, replaced by Jon Parrish Peede, a conservative-aligned publishing executive. Insiders reported a climate of intimidation, with grant reviewers sidelined in favor of politically vetted appointees.

“There was a clear directive to prioritize projects that aligned with ‘American greatness’—a vague term that often meant sidelining critical histories.”
—Anonymous former N.E.H. employee

Grants Funneled to Conservative-Aligned Projects

An analysis of 2017–2020 N.E.H. grants reveals a stark shift:

• $500K to a documentary on “American exceptionalism” by a filmmaker tied to Trump advisors.
• 35% increase in funding for “Western civilization” and “Judeo-Christian heritage” projects.
• 20% drop in grants for African American and Indigenous studies.
• $2 million to a GOP-linked university for a project on “constitutional liberty.”

Critics argue this undermined the N.E.H.’s nonpartisan mission.

“It wasn’t just about cutting funds—it was about reshaping American history.”
—Dr. Priya Menon, former N.E.H. reviewer

Silencing Dissent and Controlling Narratives

The Trump-era N.E.H. allegedly flagged applications with terms like “social justice” or “diversity.” Scholars reported:

• A project on slavery’s economic legacy was rejected as “unnecessarily provocative.”
• A Native American oral history researcher was told to remove “politicized language.”

Legacy and the Road Ahead

Under the Biden administration, N.E.H. Chair Shelly Lowe (the first Native American leader) has pledged to restore impartiality. However, rebuilding trust remains a challenge.

“The Trump years eroded trust in the N.E.H. Transparency and merit-based decisions are key to recovery.”
—Dr. Rajeev Srinivasan, cultural policy expert

The lesson? When politics override scholarship, intellectual integrity pays the price.