Yesterday (February 12, 2018), President Trump sent his Fiscal Year 2019 budget request to Congress. Once again, he has proposed eliminating or slashing federal programs and agencies that serve history organizations and promote history around the nation. According to the National Coalition for History, some of the entities threatened include the following:
- Institute of Museum and Library Services
- National Endowment for the Humanities
- National Endowment for the Arts
- National Historical Publications and Records Commission
- Department of Education K-12 History and Civics grants/academies
- National Park Service Heritage Partnership Programs
- National Park Service American Battlefield Protection Program
AASLH stands in strong support of these programs and agencies and urges its members to ask their senators and representatives to back them as well. History institutions of all sizes that protect American memory, promote our best cultural values, and teach critical thinking are made more vibrant today thanks to the actions of federal agencies.
The history community will have to work hard as always to ensure adequate funding in the coming year. Please contact your Congressional delegation and consider participating in AAM’s Museum Advocacy Day (February 26-27) or the National Humanities Alliance’s Humanities Advocacy Day (March 13).
Even if you cannot attend in person, you can help multiply the impact of those who do. AASLH is a sponsor of Museum Advocacy Day and holds its Council Meeting in conjunction with the event. We do what we can to participate in that week’s training and visits to Congressional offices on Capitol Hill. We ask each of you to amplify these efforts by contacting your Members of Congress before and during Museum Advocacy Day and National Humanities Day to show your enthusiasm for federal funding of history programs and services that sustain the nation.
John Dichtl
President & CEO
AASLH
