Illinois Humanities loses a third of its revenue to DOGE cuts
As part of Department of Government Efficiency cuts, an Illinois organization that works to preserve local history and bring educational programs to communities across the state just lost a third of its funding.
Illinois Humanities said it is behind some meaningful programming both in the Chicago area and downstate — at venues like small-town public libraries. There is a similar group in every state.
The mission of Illinois Humanities is to help document local history and tell important stories. Now, the organization has to figure out how to do so without a third of its revenue.
"Imagine you got an email out of the clear blue sky telling you: 'Oh, that paycheck you thought you were going to get? A third of it is not going to be there anymore,'" said Illinois Humanities executive director Dr. Gabrielle Lyon.
It was around 2 a.m. Wednesday, April 2, when Lyon received an email announcing the cut imposed by DOGE.
"It was a sinking feeling, and it's a disappointment," she said.
The email read: "Your grant's immediate termination is necessary to safeguard the interests of the federal government, including its fiscal priorities."
"It's a short email, and it basically says, 'Your work no longer effectuates the priorities of the administration,'" Lyon said, "In other words, 'What you do is not a priority.'"
The move pulled funding for this year and all future funding.
"There's no more money — effective immediately," Lyon said.
The same, CBS News Chicago is told, happened to each and every humanities group in every state.
Illinois Humanities alone lost $2 million.
The money would have been used for grants, free public programs, and education for young people and adults.
"We also have partners that we have been working with — The South Side Home Movie Project, About Face Youth Theatre up on the North Side, the Bronzeville Historical Society," said Lyon.
The organization also planned to use the money to collaborate with groups such as Chicago's Haitian American Museum, the Little Village Public Library, the National Public Housing Museum on the Near West Side, and other organizations to pay for all different programs all across the state.
"Helping people understand: 'Oh, this is where my people came from. These are the stories I want to keep alive,'" said Lyon.
Right now, the group promises it will not lay off anyone because of the cuts. But Illinois Humanities is looking into pulling back programs that have not started yet, and are looking to corporations for possible financial help.
