Elizabeth Blair

A source tells NPR that nearly 80% of the National Endowment for the Humanities staff of 185 people have been placed on administrative leave, effective immediately. The agency funds museums, history, education, and preservation projects through a competitive application process. The source says a team from the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, has been visiting the NEH offices.

A source tells NPR that nearly 80% of the National Endowment for the Humanities staff of 185 people have been placed on administrative leave, effective immediately. The agency funds museums, history, education, and preservation projects through a competitive application process. The source says a team from the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, has been visiting the NEH offices.

Among the NEH staff affected are people in communications, directors, and program officers. The NEH did not respond to NPR's request for comment. Elizabeth Blair, NPR News, Washington.

Among the NEH staff affected are people in communications, directors, and program officers. The NEH did not respond to NPR's request for comment. Elizabeth Blair, NPR News, Washington.

A letter from the administration says NEH grants are being terminated effective immediately because the NEH is repurposing its funding to further President Trump's agenda. The NEH supports museums, libraries, education, and history projects across the U.S. Nearly half of NEH funds goes directly to 56 state and local humanities councils.

A letter from the administration says NEH grants are being terminated effective immediately because the NEH is repurposing its funding to further President Trump's agenda. The NEH supports museums, libraries, education, and history projects across the U.S. Nearly half of NEH funds goes directly to 56 state and local humanities councils.

Caroline Lowry, head of the Oklahoma Humanities Council, says the impact will be devastating. Among its projects, oral histories from survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre and archiving material from the 1995 Oklahoma bombing.

Caroline Lowry, head of the Oklahoma Humanities Council, says the impact will be devastating. Among its projects, oral histories from survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre and archiving material from the 1995 Oklahoma bombing.

The NEH did not respond to NPR's request for comment. Elizabeth Blair, NPR News, Washington.

The NEH did not respond to NPR's request for comment. Elizabeth Blair, NPR News, Washington.

Thank you, Scott.

Thank you, Scott.

Thank you, Scott.

The changes are many and they're ongoing. Let's start with something President Trump said this week at a Women's History Month event at the White House. It has to do with the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum, which doesn't yet have a physical building. New York Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis recently introduced legislation to locate the museum on the National Mall.

The changes are many and they're ongoing. Let's start with something President Trump said this week at a Women's History Month event at the White House. It has to do with the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum, which doesn't yet have a physical building. New York Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis recently introduced legislation to locate the museum on the National Mall.

The changes are many and they're ongoing. Let's start with something President Trump said this week at a Women's History Month event at the White House. It has to do with the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum, which doesn't yet have a physical building. New York Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis recently introduced legislation to locate the museum on the National Mall.

Here's President Trump.

Here's President Trump.

Here's President Trump.

And Trump signed an executive order this week that said in part that the Women's History Museum will, quote, not recognize men as women in any respect.