On March 16, President Donald Trump made his first budget proposal for 2018, suggesting to increase defense spending by $54 billion and balancing that amount with, among other cuts, removing federal support for the arts, becoming the first president to propose eliminating the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Both endowments were created in 1965 under President Lyndon B. Johnson and only use about $300 million a year, less than one-tenth of 1% of the federal budget. However, this money is well-spent on grants and promotions for artists, musicians, writers, scholars, and leaders to encourage their contributions to culture and society. Though some Republicans have been encouraging eliminating the endowments in the past, the possibility is now very prominent with Congress (who passes the budget) and the White House controlled by the Republican party.

The arts and humanities are a direct exploration of what it means to be human, and have traditionally pushed at societal boundaries and at the power of authoritative figures, such as the government. Although artistic expression and the pursuit of knowledge are nonpartisan activities, the core practices of defying convention, addressing problems, and searching for the truth could be perceived as threatening to traditional, privileged, power-seeking politicians — like President Trump.

First, the importance of the arts and humanities cannot be disputed. For the development of understanding society and how all different types of lives function and flourish, it is crucial that resources and support is dedicated to allowing artists and scholars to expand upon their passions. In today’s world that prioritizes technical development, scientific breakthroughs, and financial issues, the arts and humanities serve as a reminder of what propels human progress in the first place. Science, technology, business, politics: all these are improving how we live, but arts, history, language, these teach us why we live.

Some of the backlash on the funding of the endowments comes from thoughts that the government should not need to endorse activities that have nothing to do with national well-being. However, as President Johnson said, “Art is a nation’s most precious heritage. For it is in our works of art that we reveal to ourselves and to others the inner vision which guides us as a nation.” The arts and humanities serve as a public record of experiences throughout our country’s history, and give an authentic, diverse outlook on society. By increasing visibility of artists’ work, the government actively promotes a more knowledged, accepting, and appreciative society.

Coming from a president who claims he doesn’t read, a proposal for eliminating the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities is not surprising. Nevertheless, for artists and scholars who depend symbolically and financially on the support of these organizations, the prospect of them disappearing is frightening. It is now our job to vocalize how absurd such an action would be, and to show our support for the arts and humanities, which are more important than ever.