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US District Court Judge Colleen McMahon of the Southern District of New York ordered the temporary suspension of grant cancellations and directed that any associated funds not be reobligated until a full trial can determine the merits of the case.
McMahon noted that the Trump administration terminated grants based on the perceived viewpoint of their recipients, attempting to suppress certain ideas. This was evident from termination notices citing executive orders aimed at combating “Radical Indoctrination” and other DEI-related programs. One grant was awarded to a professor writing about the Ku Klux Klan’s resurgence in the 1970s and 1980s; this work was flagged on an internal spreadsheet as related to diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.
The judge also mentioned that several history projects were canceled due to their connection with DEI-related topics. However, McMahon acknowledged that federal agencies have discretion to refocus priorities, but not at the cost of violating constitutional rights.
In May, the Authors Guild filed a class action lawsuit against the NEH and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) for terminating grants already appropriated by Congress. The humanities groups alleged that DOGE had brought “American history and exceptionalism” to a halt this spring when it canceled its grant program.
This legal challenge was part of a broader effort by humanities organizations and historical, research, and library associations to prevent funding cuts and the dissolution of federal agencies.
While McMahon’s injunction was narrowly tailored to maintain the status quo until a final decision is made, she denied an injunction request from the American Council of Learned Societies along with several claims in their lawsuit. Their case included the American Historical Association and the Modern Language Association.
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What action did US District Court Judge Colleen McMahon order regarding the suspension of grant cancellations?
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