Defend the National Endowment for the Humanities

Tell Congress to protect independent peer review, reverse mass grant cancellations, and reject political interference at the NEH.

The National Endowment for the Humanities has long been protected by a nonpartisan peer review process that shields scholarship and public history work from political pressure. Recent mass grant cancellations and efforts to install partisan leadership threaten that independence and the communities whose stories these grants support.

How to use this letter

Use the links below to look up your U.S. Representative and your two U.S. Senators.
Open each office’s email webform or note their mailing address and phone number.
Copy the template letter from the box below and paste it into the webform or your own email program. Personalize at least one paragraph with your service background, profession, or community ties.
Submit the message, then call their Washington office using the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224‑3121 to reinforce your position.

Tip: When you personalize the letter, keep the core asks and bill/agency names unchanged so staffers can accurately log your position.

Find your members of Congress

Find your U.S. Representative on the official House site: house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative
Find contact information for your U.S. Senators on the official Senate site: senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm
Look up federal, state, and local elected officials via USAGov’s tool: usa.gov/elected-officials

If any link is unavailable, search your state name plus “contact U.S. Senator” or “find my representative” to reach the latest official directory.

Copy‑and‑paste template letter

[Today’s Date]

The Honorable [First Last Name]
[U.S. Senate / U.S. House of Representatives]
Washington, DC 20510

Dear [Senator/Representative] [Last Name],

As your constituent and a United States military veteran, I am writing to express deep concern about recent political interference at the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). The NEH’s peer review process has protected independent scholarship, public history projects, and community-based humanities work for decades. It must not be turned into a partisan weapon.

Recent mass cancellations of NEH grants and efforts to confirm Michael McDonald as permanent NEH chair raise serious questions about political pressure on the agency’s decision-making. These actions appear to sideline expert peer reviewers and undermine public trust in the fairness and integrity of federal grantmaking.

I urge you to:

1. Oppose Michael McDonald’s confirmation as permanent chair of the NEH unless and until there is clear evidence that he will uphold the agency’s independence, respect expert peer review, and publicly explain the rationale for cancelled grants.

2. Support hearings in the relevant oversight committees to investigate the role of DOGE and other political appointees in the mass cancellation of NEH grants, including any interference in the peer review process or punitive targeting of specific scholars, institutions, or subject areas.

3. Publicly defend the principle that NEH funding decisions must be grounded in transparent, expert-driven peer review rather than in partisan ideology, religious pressure, or retaliation against viewpoints that are critical of those in power.

As veterans, scholars, educators, and community members, we know that a healthy democracy requires honest engagement with our full history—including the uncomfortable parts. When the federal government punishes humanities work for political reasons, it sends a chilling message to classrooms, archives, museums, and local organizations across the country.

Please share what specific steps you will take to protect the NEH’s independence and to restore any funding that has been inappropriately cancelled. I also ask that you make a public statement defending the agency’s peer review process and the right of Americans to study and discuss our history without political intimidation.

Thank you for your attention to this matter and for your service to our district and to the Constitution.

Sincerely,

[Your Full Name]
[Your City, State]
[Optional: Your branch of service and years served]
[Optional: Your role – e.g., educator, student, caregiver, artist, organizer]

To copy the letter: click anywhere inside the box above, press Ctrl+A then Ctrl+C (or ⌘A then ⌘C on Mac), then paste it into your member’s contact form or email.

Quick phone script (for when you call (202) 224‑3121 and ask for your Senator or Representative):


Hi, my name is [YOUR NAME], and I’m a constituent from [CITY, STATE]. I’m also a U.S. military veteran.

I’m calling to urge [Senator/Representative] [LAST NAME] to oppose Michael McDonald’s confirmation as permanent chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities and to support hearings on the recent mass cancellations of NEH grants.

The NEH must remain independent, with decisions based on transparent, expert peer review – not partisan political pressure. I’m asking the Senator/Representative to speak out publicly, restore any grants that were inappropriately cancelled, and defend the agency’s integrity.

Can you please let me know the Senator’s/Representative’s position on this?

How to use this letter

Find your members of Congress

Copy‑and‑paste template letter

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