The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) would receive $171.3 million under the Obama Administration’s fiscal year (FY) 2010 budget request that was released this week. The total budget for the NEH would increase $16.3 million from the current $155 million.

The $16.3 million increase is somewhat offset by the fact that in FY 2010, the Administration proposes to transfer 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. NEH would receive $10 million in new funding to administer a redesigned program of competitive grants to arts, historical, and cultural institutions in the District of Columbia.

So in reality funding for traditional NEH core programs only increased by $6.3 million.

FY 10 Budget Request NEH Funding by Program (FY 10 proposed vs. FY09 enacted)
(In thousands)

• $38,515 – Federal/State partnership ($35,000)
• $16,250 – Preservation and access ($16,000)
• $14,750 – Public programs ($14.500)
• $16,000 – Research programs ($14.500)
• $14.750 – Education programs ($14.500)
• $750 – Program development ($400)
• $14,500 – We The People Initiative grants ($15.800)
• $4,000 – Digital Humanities Initiatives ($4,000)
• $4,800 – Treasury funds ($5,000)
• $9,500 – Challenge grants ($9,300)

$133,815 – Subtotal, Program Funds ($129,000)

• $27,500 – Administration ($26,000)
• $10,000 – National Capital Arts and Cultural Affairs Program

$171,315 – Total, Humanities ($155,000 or +$16,315)