By now, the ripple effect of grant terminations by federal agencies has been felt far and wide at institutions dedicated to historic preservation, interpretation, and education. These institutions build community, share our full American story, and work tirelessly every day to create space for civic engagement and connection. The range of projects impacted is varied, but the long-term effects of this funding loss to the American people will be profound.

While recent judicial decisions have restored some funding and staff at the Institute of Museums and Library Services (IMLS), the impacts from grant terminations from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) are extraordinary, leaving organizations scrambling to close unexpected funding gaps, while also having to pivot for future budget decisions. Additional funding challenges due to unreleased FY 2025 Historic Preservation Fund annual appropriations and proposed deep cuts for FY 2026 threaten the future of preservation across the country, and we encourage everyone to take action.

The ramifications of these actions are illustrated through funding cuts at four National Trust Historic sites. Learn more and then see how you can act to support these important programs.

Cuts in Humanities Funding Threatens Future Programming at Shadows on-the-Teche (New Iberia, Louisiana)

Over the years, the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities (LEH) has been one of the key grantmakers for The Shadows, a National Trust Historic Site in New Iberia, Louisiana, that was once part of a sugar plantation that enslaved over 200 individuals. A critical portion of LEH funding came from annual operating support the NEH, leading to immediate impacts on the organizations they support.

For a site like The Shadows, LEH funding is critical because staff and volunteer time can count as a match, which means it is easier for small sites to meet grant requirements, making the grants more accessible.

LEH has four different granting programs: General Operating Grants, Programmatic Mini Grants, a larger Programmatic Grant called Rebirth, and Emergency Readiness Grants. In the past few years, The Shadows has received general operating funds of up to $10K per year. A Rebirth grant funded the education program series last fall (~$5K), and in the Spring of 2025 the site received a mini grant for an art program series ($1K).

While there is an effort underway following some short-term granting by the Mellon Foundation, there is some concern about the availability for general operating and programming grants this coming fiscal year. In anticipation, The Shadows edited a fall program series on military history due to LEH cuts, and future changes are anticipated as well.

Interruptions to Essential Intepretation and Archaeology Work at Montpelier (Orange, Virginia)

Montpelier is the lifelong home of James Madison, the fourth president of the United States. It is home to the Constitution Center and dedicated to engaging with the legacy of slavery in the United States. In 2025, the site saw the termination of two IMLS grants and one NEH grant. One IMLS grant has since been reinstated, but the remaining terminations jeopardize critical interpretation work and portions of the archeology program. If not reinstated, the site is facing an over $300,000 loss with an additional impact to their archaeology intern program and contract cancellation with staff and consultants who work tirelessly on each of these projects.

Halting Capacity Building and Increased Educational Outreach at the Museum of African American History (Nantucket and Boston, Massachusetts)

Collectively two different sites in Massachusetts, the Museum of African American History is the home of the abolition movement in Boston, and the country’s first public school built for Black students in 1835. This affiliate National Trust Historic Site received a transformative $498,789 three year grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services for capacity building. These funds would have provided support to expand its outreach and connect with audiences through field trips and educational programming with increased staff, in a way that would not have been previously possible.

This grant was terminated on April 10, 2025, however, Massachusetts is one of 20 states affected by the temporary injunction issued by a federal judge in Rhode Island. This injunction could be lifted at any moment, and as a result, planning for the future is at a standstill as the site works to overcome the shortfall.

Limiting Educational and Training Opportunities for Educators at the Tenement Museum (New York, New York)

This National Trust Affiliate site is one of the foremost museums dedicated to immigration history. Located in the Lower East Side of New York City, the Tenement Museum has a long track record of teacher training, innovative interpretation, and community building. The Museum welcomes visitors into the homes of immigrant, migrant, and refugee families to inspire connections between past and present and to promote an inclusive and expansive American society. In March of 2025 the Tenement Museum had 22,000 visitors, including 4,600 students.