The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) will receive $167.5 million under the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies fiscal year (FY) 2010 appropriations bill (H.R. 2996) (H. Rept. 111-316) that was signed into law by President Obama on October 30. This represents a $12.5 million increase over the FY 2009 level of $155 million.

The Administration proposed transferring oversight responsibility for the National Capital Arts and Cultural Affairs program (NCACA) from the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts to the National Endowment for the Humanities. The Obama administration’s budget included $10 million in new funding to NEH to administer a redesigned program of competitive grants to arts, historical, and cultural institutions in the District of Columbia. However, Congress rejected this proposal and the bill retains the status quo with respect to the NCACA.

FY 10 NEH Funding by Program (FY 10 vs. FY 09 enacted)
(Amounts in thousands)

$40,370 – Federal/State partnership ($35,000) +$5,370
$17,116 – Preservation and access ($16,000) +$1,116
$15,616 – Public programs ($14,500) +$1,116
$16,866 – Research programs ($14,500) +$2,366
$15,616 – Education programs ($14,500) +$1,116
$750 – Program development ($400) +$350
$14,500 – We The People Initiative grants ($15,800) -$1,300
$4,866 – Digital Humanities Initiatives ($4,000) +$866
$125,700—Subtotal Grants————-($114,700) +$11,000

$4,800 – Treasury funds ($5,000) -$200
$9,500 – Challenge grants ($9,300) +$200
$14,300– Subtotal Matching Grants—-($14,300)

$27,500 – Administration ($26,000) +$1,500

$167,500 – TOTAL HUMANITIES ($155,000) +$12,500