By Kanishka Singh
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The White House fired many members of the National Council on the Humanities on Wednesday, with the council’s website showing that only four appointees of President Donald Trump were retained.
The White House said in a statement that Trump “is hoping to place members on the board who align more closely with his vision.” The White House did not provide further details.
The National Council on the Humanities is a board of 26 scholars and humanities experts whom the president appoints for six-year terms. The body advises the chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities on policy issues, grants and funding.
Just four of the 26 members remained on the council’s website as of Wednesday: Russell A. Berman, Keegan F. Callanan, William English and Matthew Rose.
Rights advocates have raised concerns about Trump’s attacks on educational and arts institutions, diversity initiatives, and historical places and museums, saying they could undo decades of social progress and undermine acknowledgement of critical phases of American history.
The firings were reported earlier by the Washington Post, which cited terminated members and an email sent to council members.
“On behalf of President Donald J. Trump, I am writing to inform you that your position as a member of the National Council on the Humanities is terminated, effective immediately,” an email cited by the newspaper said. The Post said it came from the White House Presidential Personnel Office.
The council’s meetings require a quorum of 14, and new members must be confirmed by the Senate, the newspaper said.
Some members whose names were removed from the website were appointed by Trump. The NEH did not respond to a request for comment.
Trump has alleged that many cultural, arts and educational institutions are a bastion of liberalism and “anti-American” values and do not portray U.S. history in a positive light. He has made threats to cut their federal funding over pro-Palestinian protests against U.S. ally Israel’s war in Gaza, transgender policies, climate initiatives and diversity programs.
His targets have ranged from elite universities, the Smithsonian Institution and the Kennedy Center to broadcasters including National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting Service.
(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
