October/November 2026: Policy Updates

As Phi Beta Kappa celebrates its 250th year, the Society approaches its policy and advocacy work in 2026 with renewed focus and purpose. This moment brings both significant challenges and opportunities. Federal and state policymakers, along with college and university leaders, face decisions that will shape how higher education empowers students, strengthens communities, and advances the arts and sciences for years to come.

As a college alum and member of the Society, you are uniquely positioned to champion the value of arts and sciences education—and its impact on our nation. This September and October, FY2027 funding decisions, ongoing policy debates, and National Arts & Humanities Month offer important opportunities to make your voice heard.

Subscribe to State of the Arts & Sciences. Read the latest issue. Learn more about the National Arts & Sciences Initiative. 

Key Update: Speak Up for the Humanities During National Arts & Humanities Month 

October is National Arts & Humanities Month, making it a timely moment to speak up for policies that keep humanities education within reach. As colleges and states make difficult choices about programs and resources, advocates can help make the case for ensuring students continue to have access to humanities study—through individual courses, general education, and majors.

Here are four ways to take action this month:

• Speak up when programs are reviewed. When your alma mater is making decisions about curriculum or academic programs, share why access to humanities courses and majors matters and encourage university leaders to keep these opportunities available to students.
• Support humanities education before college. Encourage schools and policymakers to protect access to literature, history, languages, arts, and other humanities subjects in K–12 education so students have opportunities to develop these interests and skills before they reach college.
• Connect the humanities to policymaker priorities. Highlight how fields such as anthropology help students understand people, cultures, organizations, and communities—and how that knowledge contributes to preparing students for work, community life, and civic responsibilities.
• Show how the humanities strengthen your community. Support local museums, libraries, cultural organizations, historical societies, public humanities programs, and other places where humanities scholarship connects people to their communities and to one another.

October/November 2026 Legislative Opportunities
As Congress returns from August recess and works on FY2027 appropriations, here are several opportunities to advocate for federal and state investments in higher education, research, and the arts and humanities. 

• • Protect NSF’s Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences Research – The Administration’s FY27 budget proposes eliminating NSF’s SBE Directorate, while funding for its research has already declined sharply. In FY26, the directorate awarded just 91 new grants, nearly 90% fewer than its recent annual average of 800, leaving more than 30 research programs without new awards despite congressional appropriations. Take action to protect social science research.
  • Protect Independent Federal Grantmaking – A proposed Office of Management and Budget (OMB) rule would give political appointees greater authority over federal grant decisions and direct agencies not to defer to independent peer review, potentially affecting federally funded research and programs across universities, nonprofits, and state and local governments. The Senate’s bipartisan continuing resolution would temporarily block the rule from taking effect, but the issue remains unresolved. Contact your Members of Congress to share your views on maintaining independent, merit-based federal grantmaking.
  • Support the Nation’s Cultural Endowments – With strong bipartisan support, Congress approved $207 million for both the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) for FY 2026. Ask your Members of Congress for their continued commitment to arts and humanities in FY2027.
  • Prevent Drastic Cuts to Financial Aid – The Congressional Budget Office projects an $11.5 billion shortfall in the Pell Grant program, putting pressure on Congress to address the program’s long-term funding needs. The House FY2027 appropriations bill would increase the maximum Pell Grant by $50 while making significant cuts to other federal student aid programs. Federally funded student aid allows millions of Americans to attend college and give back to their communities. Learn more about the Pell shortfall and contact your Member of Congress. 
  • Support Scientific Research & Training – Federal research funding drives innovation, jobs, and lifesaving breakthroughs—plus, nearly 80% of voters support it. Explore how cuts to research funding might impact your community and take action with The Science Coalition and The Consortium of Social Science Associations (COSSA). 
  • Secure Robust State Higher Education Funding – State funding for higher education grew by just 1.0 percent in FY2025, the smallest nominal increase since 2021. While overall support is not declining, the pace of growth slowed considerably compared with previous years. Read the 2026 Grapevine Report and find resources to champion state higher education. 
  • Protect Academic Freedom & Shared Governance – Across multiple states, policymakers are reshaping tenure protections, faculty governance, and course curricula. Share the importance of academic freedom and shared governance with your state legislator. 

Read recent Phi Beta Kappa Statements

• • Letter urging the Internal Revenue Service to abandon the proposal that would allow the administration to strip private, nonprofit colleges and universities of their tax-exempt status over alleged racial discrimination
  • Letter urging the Census Bureau to withdraw the proposed changes to the census regarding residency criteria and the elimination of certain demographic questions 

  • Statement on supporting access to arts and sciences in communities 

  • Letter urging the Education Department to withdraw proposed revisions to the Education Department General Administrative Regulations 
  • Letter to U.S. Department of Education Assistant Secretary Baker regarding international education programs and Fulbright-Hays
  • Amicus Brief in support of Harvard University’s challenge to the federal research funding freeze
  • Statement on the Office of Management and Budget’s proposed rule on federal financial assistance
  • Letter urging Director of the United States Office of Management and Budget Russel Vought to withdraw and reconsider the proposed rule on regulation for federal financial assistance.
  • Letter urging Congress to Protect Dreamers
  • Letter to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Secretary Edlow regarding delays in processing time for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) renewal applications 
  • Letter to U.S. Department of Education Secretary McMahon regarding the Department’s FY 2027 budget request to Congress
  • Statement on Federal Court Ruling Restoring NEH Funding
  • Letter urging Congress to protect and maintain funding for federal student aid programs in fiscal year 2027
  • Joint Statement with AAC&U on “Higher Education’s Compact with America: Shared Principles for the Common Good”
  • Statement by Higher Education Associations in Opposition to Administration Compact
  • Statement on academic excellence in higher education
  • Letter urging Congress to ensure that all funds allocated for fiscal year 2026 be spent by the administration as intended
  • Letter to Congress expressing support for the Joint Associations Group on Indirect Costs’s effort to develop a model ensuring that institutions’ essential research costs are adequately supported
  • Letter to Congress urging preservation of the purchasing power of the Pell Grant in FY2026
  • Phi Beta Kappa’s statement on the murder of Charlie Kirk
  • Letter to Secretary Rubio urging exemption of F, J, and M student visas from travel ban
  • Letter urging Congress to protect vital federal student aid programs
  • Amicus Brief in support of Harvard University’s lawsuit challenging the administration’s efforts to subvert higher education to the federal government’s political leadership
  • Letter urging Congress to fully fund the Pell Grant program and reject any proposed eligibility cuts
  • Letter to State Department on student visa interview pause
    
  • “A Call to Reforge the Historic Compact Between Higher Education and the Federal Government” statement jointly signed by over 50 higher education assocations including Phi Beta Kappa
  • Phi Beta Kappa’s Statement of Support for Lawsuit Alleging Illegal Dismantling of the National Endowment for the Humanities
  • “Call for Constructive Engagement” statement jointly signed by higher education leaders including Phi Beta Kappa’s Secretary Frederick Lawrence
  • Joint statement in support of the National Endowment for the Humanities from The Phi Beta Kappa Society, American Council of Learned Societies, and Council of Graduate Schools.
  • Phi Beta Kappa’s statement about the Executive Order to dismantle the Department of Education
  • Phi Beta Kappa’s statement about proposed cuts to scientific research funding

Learn about the impact of the arts, humanities, and sciences in your state and district by using the following resources:

• • National College Attainment Network State Economic Value of College Profiles
  • U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis Arts & Cultural Production Satellite Account Data, U.S. and States, 2023
  • National Endowment for the Arts State Profiles
  • National Endowment for the Humanities State & Jurisdiction Impact
  • National Science Foundation by the Numbers 

National Organizations

American Academy of Arts and Sciences 

American Association for the Advancement of Science

American Council of Learned Societies 

American Council on Education 

Association of American Colleges & Universities

Association of American Universities

Council of Graduate Schools

Council of Independent Colleges

Consortium of Social Sciences Associations

National Humanities Alliance

National Humanities Center

Reports and Infographics

Myths and Realities About Humanities Majors
(Humanities Works)

Strategies for Recruiting Students to the Humanities: A Comprehensive Resource
(National Humanities Alliance)

What Are You Going to Do with That?
(National Humanities Alliance)

Doubling the Maximum Pell Grant
(National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators)

The Real, Long-term Labor Market Outcomes of Liberal Arts Grads
(Strada Institute for the Future of Work and Emsi)

Federal Funding for Social and Behavioral Sciences
(Association of American Universities)

It Takes More than a Major
(Association of American Colleges & Universities)

Liberal Arts Degrees and Their Value in Employment
(Association of American Colleges & Universities and National Center for Higher Education Management Systems)

Science Matters
(Science Coalition)

 Arts + Social Impact Explorer
(Americans for the Arts)

District Advocacy Guide: Engaging Humanities Advocates on a Local Level
(National Humanities Alliance)

NEH Impact Index
(Graduate Center Digital Initiatives)