What the loss of already-limited federal funding means for Comics Studies in the US

The interdisciplinary nature of comics often makes institutional funding for research, teaching and programming in the medium difficult to secure in US academic institutions. San Diego State University found success at the US federal level, securing close to half a million dollars in grant funding to support our efforts with the study of comics. However, the current upheaval at the federal level has plunged US researchers into funding uncertainty. Delving into what was accomplished with these grants and what is now happening with the grant programs themselves helps contextualize what US comics scholars may lose with the elimination of federal funding streams.