Reporting into the National Endowment for the Humanities finds changes to grant procedures and staffing that critics say favor handpicked projects and sideline longtime scholars. Democrats and humanities advocates are questioning whether the agency’s internal shifts are eroding peer review and transparent selection processes. The coverage details political interference allegations and points to broader risks to humanities research funding and academic freedom. Universities and research centers reliant on NEH awards will be watching whether Congress or oversight bodies move to restore formal grant governance norms.