The White House has dismissed most members of the National Council on the Humanities, the body responsible for reviewing and recommending grant proposals while advising the chairperson of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). Out of approximately 21 individuals appointed by various presidential administrations and confirmed by the Senate, only four remain—each appointed during President Trump’s first term, as confirmed by both impacted members and the NEH website.
Two members of the council, in communication with Hyperallergic, disclosed an email they received on Wednesday, October 1, from Mary Sprowls, a staff member of the Presidential Personnel Office, informing them of their termination.
“On behalf of President Donald J. Trump, I am writing to inform you that your position as a member of the National Council on the Humanities is terminated, effective immediately. Thank you for your service,” the brief two-sentence email stated.
Among those dismissed were notable figures such as distinguished art critic David Hadju; physician Vanessa Northington Gamble, who teaches Medical Humanities at George Washington University; and Stanford professor and National Humanities Medal recipient Ramón Saldívar, according to a list from the NEH’s website available through the Internet Archive.
The White House has not yet responded to Hyperallergic’s requests for comments. However, a spokesperson told the Washington Post that President Trump plans to appoint individuals who are “more aligned” with his vision.
An anonymous member of the National Council on the Humanities remarked to Hyperallergic that, in the wake of the firings, there are no longer any people of color within the council. They further noted that all female members, including the four appointed by Trump during his first term, have also been terminated.
The council plays a crucial role in advising the NEH chairperson on grant-making and vital organizational choices, including the nomination of candidates for the premier federal humanities honors. Members are appointed for staggered six-year terms and meet three times a year to assess and recommend grant applications as well as provide strategic advice. According to the NEH website, it appears that prior to these terminations, only 21 of the 26 council positions had been filled.
This sweeping dismissal represents yet another setback for federally funded arts institutions that exist to serve the American public during the Trump administration. Earlier this year, Shelly Lowe, who was the first Native American chairperson of the NEH, was removed at Trump’s behest. The president has proposed completely defunding the NEH, leading to significant cuts in financial support for arts and cultural organizations that have seen their funding withdrawn en masse and unlawfully, as determined by a federal judge in August. The NEH has indicated plans to redirect these canceled grant funds to support Trump’s proposed National Garden of American Heroes.
A council member who was dismissed informed Hyperallergic that they had been requested to submit materials for a background “reinvestigation” due by Friday, October 3, but many were terminated before that process was completed. According to this individual, the council’s next meeting was scheduled for October 9 and 10, although it remains uncertain how the ongoing government shutdown and recent firings may affect that timeline.
Lynnette Young Overby, one of the impacted council members and a professor of Theatre and Dance at the University of Delaware, expressed to Hyperallergic via email that this mass dismissal indicates “a political agenda infiltrating the council.” Overby, who was appointed in 2021 under the Biden administration, confirmed that she had never missed a meeting and consistently came fully prepared.
Another terminated member, who opted to remain anonymous while speaking to Hyperallergic, termed the remaining members as “collegial,” but highlighted that they are significantly more “ideological” and “politically connected” than those who had been dismissed.
The four remaining council members are Russell Berman, a Stanford professor of German Studies; Keegan Callanan, a political science professor at Middlebury College; William English, a business professor at Georgetown; and Matthew Rose, a scholar of religious thought.
Many council members, including the four who remain, have extended their initial six-year terms. According to information from the NEH website and insight from an affected member, it is customary for appointees to continue serving past their expected end dates until a replacement is confirmed by the Senate and officially appointed.
One member affected by the changes indicated that delays in the appointment process are quite common, often taking years. None of the council members who were reached by Hyperallergic reported knowledge of any confirmed replacements for their roles.
All individuals affected conveyed their concerns regarding the future of the NEH. Overby articulated, “With the mass firing of all but four members previously nominated by President Trump in 2019, there emerges a lack of diverse voices that are necessary for promoting and disseminating the humanities across the nation.”
