MARQUETTE — The Department of Government Efficiency has made serious funding cuts to programs and services affecting the state. DOGE terminated and rescinded all funding to Michigan Humanities, one of the 56 state and jurisdictional humanities councils funded in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities, as well as the Head Start regional office in Chicago which oversees Head Start in Michigan and five other states.

On April 3, humanities councils received emails and letters under the signature of NEH acting chair Michael McDonald notifying them that all awarded grants — including their five-year general operating grants and other program-specific awards — were canceled in their entirety, effective April 2. The NEH is the only federal agency that funds the nation’s 56 state and jurisdictional humanities councils. More than 40% of the agency’s budget goes directly to state humanities councils.

“For over 50 years, Michigan Humanities has connected the state through programs and funding support, said president and CEO of Michigan Humanities Jennifer Rupp. “These cuts will be devastating, not only for the organization, but statewide. If Michigan Humanities can’t keep our doors open, veterans, high school students, libraries, museums and other community organizations will not receive funding for services our communities depend on.”

MH has suspended all grant opportunities and programs. The rescinded federal grants make up 90% of the organization’s budget. The loss of over $900,000 in NEH funding eliminates programs that are essential to the state’s cultural infrastructure and keeps MH from serving Michiganders in all 83 counties.

Northern Lower Michigan and Upper Peninsula-based organizations that have partnered with Michigan Humanities through grants and programming are showing their support and sharing how these cuts will impact their communities.

“The recent cuts by DOGE, resulting in the potential loss of crucial support from the National Endowment for the Humanities and Michigan Humanities, strike a devastating blow to our community. It’s heartbreaking to consider the impact on the very programs that have brought profound and lasting benefits to our residents,” said Lynne Wiercinski, director of the Ironwood Carnegie Library. “Living 12 hours from our state capital and over two hours from any major city, our rural community faces unique challenges in accessing enriching cultural experiences. For many, the opportunities presented through literature and the arts, often made possible by Michigan Humanities, are not just welcomed–they are often a rare connection to the broader world. The Great Michigan Read, for instance, has brought the wonderful experience of meeting best-selling authors directly to Gogebic County — something that would be utterly impossible without the support of Michigan Humanities. These programs, reaching hundreds of individuals, including our young people, are not just entertainment; they promote critical thinking and personal growth.”

Since 2020, MH has awarded over 1,100 grants to organizations for public humanities work in all 83 counties–impacting over 11 million people. It is the only organization in the state that provides free, accessible and inclusive humanities programming across all of Michigan. Its signature program, the Great Michigan Read, connects over 30,000 people every year around one book. This program has been in place for nearly 20 years and has provided over 100,000 free books and resources to Michigan residents.

The recent cuts are forcing MH grants and programs like the Great Michigan Read to be paused.

Grant programs that fund over $600,000 to libraries, museums, cultural centers and other non-profit organizations cannot be implemented.

A program coordinated in partnership with the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency to support veterans in 10 regions across the state has been suspended.

Partnerships like Smithsonian Museum on Main Street that bring engaging humanities experiences to rural areas of the state cannot go on as planned.

These grants, programs and partnerships allow organizations to preserve, uplift and activate Michigan stories.

“As a museum director, I’ve seen firsthand how Michigan Humanities breathes life into our exhibits, our programs and our communities. It’s not just about funding–it’s about access, connection and relevance,” said Cheri Leach, CEO and director of programming at Raven Hill Discovery Center. “If Michigan Humanities were to shut its doors, the ripple effect would be devastating. Small museums, like ours in rural and underrepresented northern Lower Michigan, would lose vital support and countless stories might never be heard. Hosting the Smithsonian’s Museum on Main Street Water/Ways exhibition in 2018 and the Spark! Places of Innovation exhibit in 2023 thanks to Michigan Humanities’ efforts were unforgettable opportunities for Raven Hill and our local residents. Both exhibitions sparked conversations and inspired community partnerships, as well as fitting in perfectly with the Center’s mission of connecting science, history and the arts.”

On April 2, DOGE shut down the Region 5 Office of Head Start In Chicago. The Region 5 Office oversees Head Start programs in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin. The duties of the office includes grant oversight and funding distribution; program monitoring and compliance; and providing training and technical assistance.

“The federal employees that were terminated today by the administration’s DOGE are essential partners to the operations of Head Start providing services and guidance needed to efficiently run our programs,” said Executive Director of the Michigan Head Start Association Robin Bozek.

“Head Start is an essential resource for over 10,000 vulnerable children and families in Michigan,” said Bozek. “For 60 years, Head Start has provided the highest quality early education and comprehensive child and family support to children and families across the country here in michigan.”

Currently the Community Action Alger-Marquette programs for Head Start are set to continue as normal for the rest of the year, but things may change next fall as the funding is uncertain.

“As of today the second half of our Head Start grant was released,” said Executive Director of CAAM, Michelle LaJoi. “We have not received any cuts for Head Start. In the fall it might be different.”

There is also uncertainty as to if there will be another regional office set in place to help the numerous states who have been left without one, and if not how the Head Start programs will adapt with its 198 current students.

“We are not going to act on fear, we are going to act on the information we have today,” said LaJoi.

For more information about Michigan Humanities, visit michiganhumanities.org. For more information on CAAM, visit www.communityactionam.org.