On April 2, 2025, Humanities Iowa, the state's primary distributor of National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) funds, received notification that all NEH funding for Iowa had been terminated. This abrupt cessation jeopardizes approximately $1 million allocated for local cultural programs, including rural museum exhibits and family literacy events. Consequently, Humanities Iowa has suspended grant awards and reimbursements, now seeking private donations to sustain its initiatives. The Des Moines Art Center, for instance, lost an $11,275 NEH grant intended for a Haitian art exhibit, leading to the cancellation of associated programming. These cuts are expected to disproportionately affect smaller, rural arts organizations.

Humanities Iowa, a nonprofit organization based in Ames, has been dedicated to bringing the humanities to life in Iowa. It provides grants, builds community partnerships, and creates programming that reaches over 250,000 Iowans each year. The organization's initiatives include community roundtables, intergenerational storytelling projects, documentaries, rural archives restoration, the Iowa Poet Laureate program, the statewide Speakers Bureau series, and the journal "Voices from the Prairie."

In February 2025, the NEH designated Humanities Iowa as the state's permanent humanities council, recognizing its commitment to fostering community connection and cultural exploration through a wide variety of partnerships throughout the state.

The termination of NEH funding has led Humanities Iowa to suspend grant awards and reimbursements, affecting numerous cultural programs across the state. The Des Moines Art Center, for example, lost an $11,275 NEH grant intended for a Haitian art exhibit, resulting in the cancellation of associated programming. Executive Director Heather Plucar of Humanities Iowa and Kelly Baum, Director of the Des Moines Art Center, have expressed concerns about the broader implications of federal cuts, including reductions to the National Endowment for the Arts and the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

The funding cuts in Iowa are part of a broader trend of federal reductions affecting humanities programs nationwide. For instance, the U.S. Department of State recently halted funding for the University of Iowa's International Writing Program, leading to the cancellation of its summer youth program, distance learning courses, and the Emerging Voices Mentorship Program. The program's Fall Residency will also be reduced by about half.

Additionally, plans to commemorate America's 250th anniversary in 2026 are being jeopardized by substantial federal funding cuts initiated by President Donald Trump's administration. State humanities councils, which had been organizing diverse community events under the America250 initiative, have lost support from the NEH after the agency's grants were canceled and 80% of its staff placed on administrative leave. These cuts are part of broader government downsizing and efforts to eliminate programs perceived as promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The termination of NEH funding in Iowa and similar cuts nationwide have significant social and societal implications:

• Cultural Enrichment: Programs that foster cultural understanding and appreciation are at risk, potentially leading to a diminished cultural landscape.
• Community Engagement: Many of these programs serve as platforms for community engagement and dialogue, and their loss could weaken community bonds.
• Educational Opportunities: Educational initiatives, particularly those targeting underserved or rural communities, may be curtailed, limiting access to humanities education.
• Economic Impact: Cultural programs often contribute to local economies through tourism and job creation; their reduction could have negative economic consequences.

Humanities Iowa is now seeking private donations to sustain its initiatives. The organization had planned to launch a literacy program at central Iowa libraries to help families read together at home. "It stinks that we're having to fight for funding for things like that," Plucar says.

The Des Moines Art Center is absorbing the cost of the Haitian art exhibit and continuing with the exhibit, but it had to cancel other programs. Kelly Baum expressed concern that smaller arts organizations in rural communities could be disproportionately affected. "There isn't a lot of us here," she said.

The recent federal funding cuts have placed Iowa's cultural programs in a precarious position, threatening the continuation of initiatives that enrich communities, foster education, and contribute to the state's economy. As Humanities Iowa and other organizations seek alternative funding sources, the future of these programs remains uncertain, highlighting the critical role of public support in sustaining the humanities.