DOGE pulls federal funding for Mississippi Humanities Council. See how it affects state

AI-assisted summary
• The Mississippi Humanities Council lost all federal funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
• The MHC uses federal funds to support programs across the state that highlight Mississippi's history and culture.
• The MHC provided over 750 programs across 90 communities in 2024 alone.

Spending cuts at the federal level are having an impact on Mississippi, starting with state agencies that are having to readjust to a much leaner budget with fewer federal dollars — or none at all.

The Mississippi Humanities Council was notified late Wedneseday night that its federal funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities was terminated, effective immediately, MHC Director Stuart Rockoff said.

The revoked funds include monies already appropriated to the MHC.

"We have $1.5 million in either money that was awarded to us or already appropriated to us that we are not able to draw down," Rockoff said. "You basically have to draw down as you spend it. We have 35 open grants that we've given to nonprofit organizations, and we can no longer access the funds that we owe them through those grants. It's crazy."

The email came at around 11:45 p.m. from the Department of Government Efficiency using an unfamiliar email address, Rockoff said. Other grants in Mississippi have been awarded in addition to the Humanities Council ones, but Rockoff said he isn't sure of their status either.

"It's just chaos," he said. "And, it's not the result of a thoughtful, considerate process."

Rockoff said while most of the organization's funding comes from federal funds — about 70% — there are other funding sources, including endowment funds, donations and cash reserves.

"We're not closing up shop tomorrow," he said.

Rockoff is asking Mississippians to reach out to their congressional delegation to ask them to help reverse the order and restore funding to the humanities.

The Mississippi Humanities Council was started more than 50 years ago to help bring about social change. At first, the mission was to discuss issues such as desegregation, which expanded later to other initiatives that unite people and celebrate the state's rich and diverse history.

Among the initiatives and programming that MHC has helped with include the Mississippi Blues Trail, the Eudora Welty House and Garden and the B.B. King Museum.

Some of the current programs include Ideas on Tap, Prison Education, Youth Reading and the Mississippi Freedom Trail.

As of Thursday, the MHC programs funded through federal dollars are suspended indefinitely, including the Speakers Bureau and the April 10 engagement featuring Tracy Carr.

In addition to its own programming, the council helps fund projects with the state's universities, libraries, museums, arts councils and even small groups whose programs help develop a great understanding of the human experience as it relates to Mississippi.

To receive funding, the programs must be offered for free.

Dianna Freelon Foster of Grenada, is one of those whose group partnered with MHC to help preserve the history of school integration and the civil rights movement in her community.

"I'm not surprised," Foster said when she learned of the cuts. "I expected it."

To her, it is a throwback to her childhood, when she was beaten because "I was not wanted in a school I had a right to attend."

"It aligns with all the things that have been done (in the past), just for the right to have dignity, to have quality education, just for the right to be human, the right to be a citizen," she said. "Just to feel all of that … I mean, I knew it would possibly come but it's nothing like when it actually hits you."

Foster said she believes Americans' civil rights are at risk again, as it was in the past, when Black Americans in the South could not vote or have equal access to businesses, education and many other things that all Americans are entitled to.

She quoted Fannie Lou Hamer, who in 1964, asked, "Is this America?" when she and other delegates from the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party were not seated at the national Democratic convention. Instead, the all-white Democratic Party delegation was seated.

Foster said Hamer never answered that question, but Foster has an answer.

"Yes, this is America," she said. "It always has been and we've tried so hard to change that."

VisitNatchez Cultural Heritage and Tourism Manager Roscoe Barns said he's been following all the recent changes in federal government, but this one hits close to home.

"You're really hurt and disappointed when it comes to your area," Barnes said. "It's like it trickles down from the national scene all the way down South to Natchez, Mississippi. I was heartbroken and very disappointed.

"It will be a tremendous loss to southwest Mississippi and the entire state if we were to lose the support and funding for the Mississippi Humanities Council."

Barnes said the MHC was instrumental in helping the city get back on its feet as it emerged from the coronavirus pandemic by helping the city's museums like the Rhythm Night Club, Dr. John Banks' house and the Natchez Museum of African American History and Culture refresh and get ready to welcome guests once again, including new exhibits, displays and programs.

In Natchez, once home to the largest slave market in the state, leaders believe it is important to share the entire history, both good and bad.

"That includes people from all backgrounds," Barnes said.

In 2024 alone, the Mississippi Humanities Council presented 750 programs across 90 communities and supported 65 grants to various groups with just $1 million in federal funding, the organization said in an email announcing the federal cuts.

"It was such a gut-punch this morning to get this news," said Ellen Daniels, director of the Mississippi Book Festival. "The Humanities Council helps so many organizations around the state."

Book Festival organizers often brainstorm with Humanities Council leaders about potential programs and initiatives.

Daniels praised the council's efforts in improving education for people who are incarcerated through coursework and book clubs inside the prisons. She also said the council works with indigenous communities to bring humanities programs and to share their communities with the rest of the state.

Daniels said supporters, if they can, should make donations to the Mississippi Humanities Council to help sustain the group for however long it takes.

"With the announcement of this, I have given a donation so they can keep doing their work across the state," she said.

She hopes others will follow her example.

"We need the humanities in this state."

Daniels said the humanities have had big support from the state. Even at the national level, two of the 12 national directors have been from Mississippi: William Ferris, a Vicksburg native, and Jon Parrish Peede, who grew up in Brandon.

"They highlight all the wonderful things about our state — and our troubled past that we reckon with and how we can learn from those mistakes," Daniels said.

How to help

Contact your U.S. senators and representatives: This link has a prepopulated message or you can write your own: https://p2a.co/HJwNkhW. The message will be directed to your lawmakers by the zip code you enter.

Reach out to state and local officials: Find your state representatives and senators here: legislature.ms.gov/legislators.

Donate to the Mississippi Humanities Council at mshumanities.org/donate.

Source: Mississippi Humanities Commission

Lici Beveridge is a reporter for the Hattiesburg American and Clarion Ledger. Contact her at lbeveridge@gannett.com. Follow her on X  @licibev or Facebook at facebook.com/licibeveridge.