Oklahoma Humanities Council fears future after letter from DOGE
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – An organization that works quietly in the background to help provide grants for educational and cultural experiences to communities across the state doesn't know if they'll continue to operate after receiving a letter from the Department of Government Efficiency.
'There is the very likely scenario that Oklahoma Humanities doesn't come back from this,' said Caroline Lowery.
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Lowery is the executive director of the Oklahoma Humanities Council.
For more than 50 years, the council has taken federal grants and distributes them across the state, especially in rural areas. Their work can be noticed in places like libraries, universities, historical societies, and museums in Oklahoma.
'They're able to offer additional programming for their communities, maybe that would be exhibitions, maybe 'let's talk about it' the reading program, maybe it's bringing schools into the museums,' said Brenda Granger, the executive director of the Oklahoma Museums Association.
There are countless other examples of their work, like field trips and new exhibits at the Oklahoma Museum of Art.
They also helped the Arts and Cultural Affairs of OKC preserve stories from Oklahoma's black communities.
'There were these thriving communities who's stories are getting ready to disappear entirely,' said Randy Marks, the program planner of the with the OKC Arts and Cultural Affairs.
Lowery said the council received a letter from the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, warning there will be no more grants.
'It will be devastating to cultural infrastructure of Oklahoma. It will mean people will lose their jobs. It will mean people will lose programs in their community,' said Lowery.
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Lowery argues this is not federal waste. It's jobs, culture, and education. The community also matches the federal dollars given in grants.
'For every one dollar in federal funds that comes here we are matching that with at least three dollars,' said Lowery.
Now, Lowery and the council are working with Oklahoma congressional delegation, hoping they can go to bat for them.
'It will be a devastating loss to all 77 counties. Our work is everywhere,' said Lowery.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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