NEH Budget Request versus Final Appropriation, FY1966-2016 (inflation-adjusted)
Source: Humanities Indicators, American Academy of Arts and Sciences
AAU urges Congress to provide at least $155 million for the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) in FY19.
A robust humanities education is critical to cultivating a broadly-educated workforce ready to compete in the knowledge-based, global 21st Century economy. From the basic building blocks of early education, to the highest levels of academic attainment, humanities fields provide individuals from all disciplines, including science, technology, engineering, & mathematics (STEM), with critical thinking, problem solving, communication, and analytical skills, competencies, and the expertise needed by the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. For the cost of less than 50 cents per American, NEH grants support the humanities nationwide—including history, English, and civics—which are fundamental to learning and essential for full participation in a modern democracy.