In a united front against the Trump administration's recent cuts to public humanities funding, Attorney General Kris Mayes has stepped into the legal fray. Mayes, rallying a coalition of states, has signed an amicus brief to halt the administration's attempts to slash federal support. These cuts have threatened a variety of community-based humanities programs that have been relying on consistent funding since the early '70s, according to the Arizona Attorney General.
The brief, which was filed in the District Court for the District of Oregon, supports a lawsuit challenging abrupt fund reductions by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). "Arizonans and Americans did not vote for this. Congress did not approve this. The Trump Administration does not have the unilateral authority to steal this funding from the states," Mayes said. He argues that the administration's actions overstep constitutional boundaries, ignore a statutory mandate from Congress, and cause irreparable harm to the local programs, schools, and libraries depending on this funding, as stated by the Arizona Attorney General.
Specifically, Arizona has been hard hit, with the NEH's slashing of funds forcing state councils to make tough calls, like canceling programs and furloughing staff. The humanities services facing cutbacks in the state include AZ Reads, which aims to bolster literacy in K-12 schools, grants that arm libraries with resources to develop community-centric programming, and the notable Blue Corn Festival — a gathering that honors Diné culture, food and futures, as reported by the Arizona Attorney General.
Joining Arizona in this legal challenge are attorneys general from sixteen other jurisdictions, including Maryland, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Nevada New Mexico, Rhode Island, Wisconsin, Vermont, and the District of Columbia. A critical hearing regarding the injunction to restore funding is slated for August 4, right in the federal courthouse located in Portland, Oregon, as per the Arizona Attorney General.
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