Jair M. Bolsonaro, the current president of Brazil, has announced on Twitter his plans to stop government funding of philosophy and sociology in the nation’s public universities.

O Ministro da Educação @abrahamWeinT estuda descentralizar investimento em faculdades de filosofia e sociologia (humanas). Alunos já matriculados não serão afetados. O objetivo é focar em áreas que gerem retorno imediato ao contribuinte, como: veterinária, engenharia e medicina. — Jair M. Bolsonaro (@jairbolsonaro) April 26, 2019

A rough translation is: “The Minister of Education, Abraham Weintraub, is studying how to decentralize investment in philosophy and sociology at universities. Students who have already enrolled will not be affected. The objective is to focus on areas that generate immediate return to the taxpayer, such as: veterinary, engineering, and medicine.”

By way of explanation, he added:

A função do governo é respeitar o dinheiro do contribuinte, ensinando para os jovens a leitura, escrita e a fazer conta e depois um ofício que gere renda para a pessoa e bem-estar para a família, que melhore a sociedade em sua volta. — Jair M. Bolsonaro (@jairbolsonaro) April 26, 2019

Again, roughly translated, this says: “The role of the Government is to respect the taxpayer’s money, teaching young people to read, write, and learn job skills that generates income for the person and well-being for the family, which improves the society around them.”

Those with more knowledge of the situation are encouraged to share what they know in the comments here, or by email to [email protected].

(Thanks to Danielle Wenner and Chris Bertram for the tip)

UPDATE (5/1/19): Please consider signing the open letter protesting this proposal.

Related: Philosophers and Welders and Politicians; Philosophy Majors Make More Money Than Majors in any other Humanities Field